Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has expressed strong disapproval of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s claims that the Opposition is avoiding a discussion regarding exam paper leaks. Kharge contended that had the government truly wished to engage in a dialogue, it would have permitted such discussions from the outset when the Opposition initially raised the issue.

In statements made to reporters, Kharge took the opportunity to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intentions on the matter while subsequently calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He emphasized that a debate should have commenced promptly upon the Opposition’s demand and questioned why the government had failed to facilitate this at first.

Kharge condemned actions taken against students by the police, asserting that the ruling party had obstructed parliamentary processes. “We, as Members of Parliament, were denied entry today,” Kharge stated, stressing the government’s responsibility to allow for open discussion. He insisted that no progress can be made until the Education Minister resigns.

Criticism from Karnataka Home Minister

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has also weighed in on the situation, criticising the Centre’s reluctance to replace the Education Minister. He questioned the prioritisation of a single minister over the educational futures of millions of students nationwide.

Priyank Kharge expressed disappointment that the government appears detached from the sentiments of students, asking rhetorically why Dharmendra Pradhan holds such importance within the Cabinet. He further expressed disbelief that the government could not remove a minister responsible for widespread student issues.

He remarked on the Prime Minister’s outreach initiatives, including Mann Ki Baat and Pariksha Pe Charcha, contrasting them with a lack of genuine interaction with students. Priyank Kharge articulated concern over the Prime Minister’s failure to directly address the pressing topics faced by students, deeming recent events in Delhi unfortunate.

Parliamentary Tensions and Accusations

Earlier, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of failing to engage in a meaningful discussion about the NEET paper leak issue. He claimed that leaders from the INDIA bloc began imposing conditions after agreeing to debate within Parliament, thereby hindering progress.

Rijiju stated that he had attempted to facilitate a structured discussion by reaching out to Opposition members, but alleged that they introduced excuses to delay the proceedings as time went on. Despite these claims, he expressed hope that a resolution could still be reached through dialogue by day’s end.

The statements coincided with notable tensions within Parliament earlier that day, where confrontations erupted between NDA and INDIA bloc MPs. Opposition members protested against the Education Minister over the NEET controversy while NDA lawmakers countered by accusing the Opposition of obstructing debate.

During the altercation, CPI(M) MP John Brittas was seen removing a poster from BJP leader Arun Singh’s grasp. With MPs from both factions facing each other, parliamentary security intervened to separate the groups, while Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra exchanged slogans with BJP leaders in the midst of the skirmish.

On the issue of the ongoing unrest, BJP MP Sambit Patra criticized the Congress for avoiding debate, despite discussions taking place in recent days involving senior BJP leaders, student groups, and activist Sonam Wangchuk.

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