NEW DELHI:
As Parliament reconvened today, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw the Opposition raise pressing issues including the NEET paper leak and the new criminal laws.
.Opposition MPs, demanding a debate over the NEET row, walked out of the Lok Sabha as BJP leader Anurag Thakur started the proceedings with a debate on President Droupadi Murmu’s address. Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “There was no vision, direction in President’s address to Parliament. There was no mention of poor, Dalits or minorities in the address.
.Earlier, Opposition MPs, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, protested at the Parliament complex today over several issues including the new criminal laws, the NEET paper leak row and the alleged misuse of central agencies. Mr Gandhi, speaking in Lok Sabha on the NEET row said, “We wanted a one-day discussion on NEET. It is an important issue. More than two crore students have been affected. Paper leaks have happened on 70 occasions. We would be happy if you allow a separate discussion on the issue.”
.In response to Mr Gandhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the House operates under established rules, procedures, and traditions and that during the motion of thanks on the President’s address, no other issue has historically been taken up.
.BJP leader Anurag Thakur, initiating the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, highlighted the economic milestones of the NDA government over the past decade. Mr Thakur criticised Mr Gandhi, suggesting that the latter had enjoyed power without responsibility until his recent appointment as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
.Mr Thakur congratulated Gandhi on his new role but cautioned that with his position comes the responsibility of active participation. “Absentee landlordism will not work,” Mr Thakur quipped, challenging Mr Gandhi’s past record of attendance and engagement in parliamentary sessions. His remarks drew protests from Opposition members, particularly in Mr Gandhi’s absence from the House during Mr Thakur’s speech.
