New Delhi: Upping arms against the BJP-led Central Government over irregularities in conduct of NEET. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs today strongly protested against the Centre and also went to the Well of the Rajya Sabha.
“Protesting the corruption and irregularities in #NEET exam, affecting the lives of millions of students in India, the Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MPs in Parliament today protested; standing up in their respective places and then moving to the front of the House and further demanding discussion on it in the Rajya Sabha today,” BJD leader in Rajya Sabha, Sasmit Patra said on social media site X.
When their protest was not heeded to, the BJD MPs also went to the well of the House registering their strong protest as a robust and dynamic Opposition party on the floor of the Parliament, he said.
Dr Patra informed that the BJD MPs also strongly protested against the BJP-led Government of India in the Parliament and went to the Well of the House twice, voicing the concerns of the students and parents of Odisha who are adversely affected due to NEET irregularities and corruption.
As the Opposition party members including BJD MPs created uproar and entered the Well of the House demanding an immediate discussion on the issue of alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 PM.
The uproar started after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar did not approve of 22 notices by members from the opposition benches under a rule (Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha procedures) to suspend listed business of the day and hold discussion on the NEET issue.
The Chair informed the House that the President, in her speech, had said that the government is fully committed to investigating the recent incidents of paper leaks and ensure that the guilty are punished.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also urged the Chairman to accept the demand for discussion. However, Dhankhar did not agree, and asked BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi to initiate the discussion on the motion of thanks. Due to uproar, the House was first adjourned till 12 noon for 30 minutes and then till 2 PM.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG was conducted by the NTA on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates taking part in it.
The results were announced on June 4, but they were followed by allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar, besides other irregularities.
The Education Ministry also cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and NEET (postgraduate) examinations after receiving inputs that the exams’ “integrity may have been compromised.