NEET Row Likely To Grab Spotlight As Parliament Resumes Today: Key Pointers

As the Parliament session reconvenes today, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are poised for intense debates on critical issues like the NEET paper leak, inflation, and the Agnipath scheme.

Here are 10 pointers on this major story:

Disruption in Lok Sabha: On Friday, the Lok Sabha's proceedings were disrupted after Speaker Om Birla denied the Opposition's request to prioritise a debate on the NEET paper leak before addressing the Motion of Thanks. This decision led to a deadlock, with Opposition members, led by Rahul Gandhi, insisting that the NEET issue warranted immediate discussion. The House was subsequently adjourned until Monday.

Speaker's Statement: Speaker Om Birla told the Opposition, "You can raise all matters in the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. You will get enough time. But I can't allow you to raise any other issue during the debate on the Motion of Thanks. It was already decided and mentioned in the bulletin too."

NEET-UG Examination: The NEET-UG exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, saw around 24 lakh candidates participate. Allegations of question paper leaks surfaced in states like Bihar after the results were announced on June 4, prompting widespread protests.

CBI Arrests: The CBI has so far arrested six individuals, including the principal of a private school in Gujarat's Godhra, in its investigation into the alleged malpractices in conducting the NEET-UG exam.

Upcoming Debate: When the Lok Sabha resumes, BJP MP Anurag Thakur is expected to open the debate on the Motion of Thanks, with the motion seconded by Bansuri Swaraj, a first-term Lok Sabha member and daughter of the late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj. The debate is scheduled to last 16 hours, concluding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply on Tuesday.

Opposition Demands: Opposition MPs are expected to persist with their demands for a discussion on the NEET controversy, alongside raising concerns about inflation and unemployment.

Rajya Sabha Protests: In the Rajya Sabha, the situation mirrored the Lok Sabha's tension. Protests erupted during Friday's session, with Opposition members demanding a debate on the NEET issue. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge actively participated in the protest, joining colleagues in the Well of the House. Amid all this, Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam fainted due to high blood pressure while participating in the protests in the Rajya Sabha, necessitating her transfer to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

Rajya Sabha Debate: Despite these interruptions, the Rajya Sabha has allocated 21 hours for the debate on the Motion of Thanks, with Prime Minister Modi expected to respond on Wednesday.

LoP's Statement: On Sunday, Rahul Gandhi stated that the Leader of Opposition is the "strongest democratic tool" for India. He said, "I will raise your voice by raising your problems and issues with full force in the Parliament," in a social media post.