Parliament Remains Deadlocked as NEET Row Dominates Monsoon Session

New Delhi: The ongoing deadlock in Parliament over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy continued on Thursday, with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessing repeated adjournments amid persistent Opposition protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a discussion on the issue. Proceedings in both Houses were disrupted shortly after they began, as Opposition members pressed for an immediate debate on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the recent police action against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party-led march to Parliament on July 20. The government maintained that it was prepared to hold a discussion on the NEET issue but accused the Congress of imposing conditions that were preventing the debate from taking place. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "The government is ready to discuss the NEET issue in both Houses today, but the Congress has attached conditions, which shows they do not want the discussion to happen." Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge rejected the government's claim and reiterated the Opposition's demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him accountable for the alleged examination irregularities. Kharge also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent announcement to establish fast-track courts for paper leak cases, describing the move as "instigative" and insufficient to address the larger concerns surrounding the examination system. The Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, has so far remained largely unproductive, with Parliament failing to conduct substantive legislative business during its first three days due to repeated disruptions and adjournments. Apart from the NEET controversy, the Opposition has also been demanding a discussion on the alleged police crackdown on students and protesters who participated in the march to Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, accusing the government of suppressing democratic dissent. Despite the disruptions, the revised agenda for the day includes consideration and passage of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. Opposition MPs Sougata Ray, N.K. Premachandran, and Adv. Dean Kuriakose are also scheduled to move a statutory resolution opposing the proposed legislation. In addition, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is expected to table a series of reports before the House during the day's proceedings. With both the government and the Opposition remaining firm on their respective positions, the NEET paper leak controversy continues to dominate the Monsoon Session, raising the possibility of further disruptions unless a consensus is reached on the terms of the parliamentary debate.

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