Rahul Gandhi, Opposition MPs urge Lok Sabha Speaker to allow debate on NEET row and protest clashes

New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with several Opposition MPs, met Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday to demand a detailed discussion in Parliament on the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and the reported clashes during the recent protest over the issue.

After the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition wanted Parliament to debate both the examination crisis and the reported use of force against students during Monday's demonstration.

"Met the Hon'ble Lok Sabha Speaker today along with MPs of the Opposition. Our demand is simple: Parliament must have a detailed discussion on the brutality unleashed on students yesterday and on the government's complete lack of accountability for the examination crisis," Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Referring to the clashes that took place during the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) 'Sansad Chalo' march, he said students had been prevented from raising concerns about their future.

"If Parliament cannot discuss the future of India's youth, what is it for?" Gandhi said, adding that the Opposition would continue to raise the issue both inside and outside Parliament.

Meanwhile, proceedings in the Lok Sabha were disrupted for the second time on Tuesday as Opposition members continued sloganeering and protests during the Monsoon Session.

Presiding over the House, Sandhya Ray adjourned the proceedings after repeated appeals for order failed to calm protesting members.

Earlier in the day, Speaker Om Birla had also adjourned the House till noon after disruptions prevented normal business from continuing.

Appealing to members to allow the House to function, Birla said, "Do you not want the House to run?... Everyone will get a chance to raise their issues."

However, the protests continued, leading to another adjournment.

Before the House convened, leaders of the INDIA bloc met to finalise their strategy for the day's proceedings. The meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule and several other Opposition leaders.

The repeated disruptions follow similar scenes on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, when Opposition parties demanded discussions on issues including the alleged NEET examination paper leak and the CJP-led protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, resulting in multiple adjournments in both Houses of Parliament.

With inputs from IANS