Rahul Gandhi’s First Lok Sabha Speech Interrupted Over NEET Controversy - Telegraph India

On Friday, Rahul Gandhi made his first speech as the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, while his Rajya Sabha counterpart, Mallikarjun Kharge, took an unusual step by entering the Well of the House. Their main goal was to push the government and the presiding officers to discuss the irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam and the alleged paper leaks affecting several national-level exams.

However, the presiding officers of both Houses rejected the INDIA bloc’s demand for an immediate discussion. Notices for an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha and notices under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha were turned down. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar stated that members could have raised the NEET issue during their speeches on the motion of thanks to the President’s address.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned early for the day, while the Rajya Sabha continued its session after the Opposition walked out in protest. The BJD also joined the protests and the walkout.

Rahul Gandhi, when briefly allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha, said, “Sir, we wanted to send a joint message from the Opposition and the government that we consider this issue urgent and, therefore, thought that to show respect to the students, we should hold a dedicated discussion on NEET.” However, his microphone was switched off shortly after he began speaking. The Speaker had already informed the Opposition that adjournment motions and Zero Hour could not be considered during the President’s address to Parliament.

Congress member K.C. Venugopal told reporters outside Parliament, “The leader of the Opposition was not even allowed to speak for one minute. His mic was switched off in between.”

Rahul, who had worn kurta-pyjamas on his first day as the leader of the Opposition on Wednesday, was back in his usual casual pants and white T-shirt. Before the session, he told reporters that NEET was the most important issue and should be discussed before anything else. “The youth are worried and do not know what is going to happen. A message and assurance should go to the youth from Parliament that India’s government and the Opposition are together in raising the concerns of students,” he said. “I would urge the PM that there should be a good and respectful discussion on the issue.”

Inside the House, after Rahul was stopped from speaking, Opposition members rushed into the Well and chanted slogans, leading to an adjournment until noon. Protests erupted again when the House reconvened. Birla urged the Opposition to wait, saying papers were being laid in the House for the formation of committees. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi responded, “Sir, the students who are committing suicide are not aware of the formality of papers being laid. They want justice.”

As parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju laid the papers, Opposition members rushed into the Well, demanding an immediate discussion on NEET and paper leaks. Birla accused the Opposition of deliberately stalling the proceedings. Rijiju said there had been no tradition of discussing anything other than the motion of thanks after the President’s address.

In the Rajya Sabha, tensions rose after Kharge entered the Well. An upset Chairman called it a “tainted day in the history of Indian Parliament.” During the commotion, Congress MP Phulo Netam Devi fainted and had to be taken to the hospital.

Kharge told reporters outside that he had entered the Well to draw the Chairman’s attention, “who had turned his face away from the Opposition benches.” Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh disputed Dhankar’s claim that no leader of the Opposition had ever entered the Well before. He posted on X, “Memories are short, especially when old rivals become new partners. On Aug 5, 2019, the then Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, sat on the steps leading to the Chairman’s presiding seat - which is very much part of the Well. This was when the Bills to abolish Article 370 and downgrade the status of J&K from a full-fledged state to a UT were being introduced.”