New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) The Monsoon Session of Parliament remained paralysed for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, with the Rajya Sabha repeatedly adjourned amid uproar over the NEET paper leak controversy and alleged police excesses against protesting students in the national capital.
The House reconvened at 2 p.m., where Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan urged members to return to their seats and allow crucial bills to be taken up. His appeal was drowned out by persistent sloganeering from the Opposition, forcing another adjournment till 3 p.m.
“It is the fourth day today; let us take up a Bill for discussion. This means you do not want the House to function,” he said, appealing for decorum.
Earlier, at noon, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge mounted a sharp attack on the government, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Thousands of students are on the streets. Police lathi charge has left many injured and hospitalised. Parents are deeply anxious. The resignation must come first,” Kharge declared, vowing to block all business until the demand was met.
Leader of the House J.P. Nadda countered, accusing the Opposition of derailing parliamentary functioning.
He pointed out that the government had already agreed to a debate on the paper leak issue, but alleged that the Opposition was uninterested in either discussion or legislative work.
His intervention was cut short by loud protests, compelling Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to adjourn the House until 2 p.m.
Outside Parliament House, the confrontation spilled into the open.
Opposition MPs staged a sit-in near the Makar Dwar, joined by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who expressed solidarity with agitating students. The NDA MPs also protested against the Congress-led sit-in near the PM’s residence on July 21 and the opposition’s refusal to agree to debate on the paper leak issue.
Earlier during the morning session, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju reiterated the government’s readiness for a debate, urging the Opposition not to impose conditions.
He stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already announced the setting up of fast-track courts to ensure swift punishment for those involved in exam leaks.
“Without any conditions, I request the Chairperson to decide a time, and we are ready for the discussion today itself,” Rijiju said. Kharge, however, dismissed the Prime Minister’s remarks as “instigative”, reiterating the Congress demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
–IANS
sktr/dpb
