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PM Modi’s charge of Manmohan Singh colluding with Pak disrupts Parliament for fourth day

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9 years ago

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rajya-sabha

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Disruptions continued to dog the Parliament on the fourth day of winter session, forcing Rajya Sabha to be adjourned for the day on Wednesday, Dec 20, while the Lok Sabha was adjourned temporarily and managed to conduct some business despite the ruckus.

The cause of the uproar was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh, accusing him of colluding with Pakistan to influence Gujarat polls. Dr Singh had made an uncharacteristically sharp rebuttal, accusing Modi of trying to win “political points” through “canards” and demanding that he apologise to the nation. Taking it up now, as expected, while the Congress is demanding an apology for the bizarre charge, the BJP government has made it clear that no apology would be tendered.

The loss of time comes when the winter session was already curtailed: it began on December 15 and will conclude on January 5 next year.

In Parliament on Wednesday, with the Question Hour on his office, PMO, the PM was present in Lok Sabha but no work could be conducted. As the Question Hour started, the Congress MPs trooped in the Well of the House, shouting “Dr sahab se maafi mango” (apologise to Dr Manmohan Singh). Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the proceedings of the House till noon.

In Rajya Sabha, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu’s repeated appeals for calm had no effect. Naidu’s statement did not help: “… Nobody is going to give apology. Nothing happened in the House. The statement was not made here.”

The Parliament has lost three days over the issue. On Tuesday, Naidu said he had met senior leaders from both sides to try and address the problem. He said he also met Dr Singh. There was an agreement that a joint committee will be formed to find a solution, according to media reports.

However, after a joint meeting between members of the government and the opposition on Tuesday, reports said an apology from Modi or his government was not likely. Reports said that the government clearly conveyed its decision during the meeting, in which Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar were present, that no apology will be issued for Modi’s accusation of treason, which he made on 11 December, without providing any evidence.

The meeting came after the Chairman of Rajya Sabha Venkaiah Naidu asked the two sides to talk and resolve the issue.

Dr Manmohan Singh was also reported to have met Naidu to express anguish over Modi’s remarks. “Dr. Manmohan Singhji met me. He has expressed his concern, his feelings. I have talked to him and also understood what he meant. I have conveyed it to the right persons also,” Naidu said.

While the government has made it clear that an apology from Modi was ruled out, it had reportedly assured that either Jaitley, who is Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, or Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar would make a statement.

However, media reports quoting sources said that during the meeting between the Opposition and the government, Jaitley made it clear that he had a transcript of the Prime Minister’s speech and he did not speak out of line. Jaitley instead went on to accuse the Congress of using abusive terms for Modi.

“I think the PM’s stature will not be diminished if he clarifies and regrets because Manmohan Singh is also a member of the House. Why should he stand on falsehood? Either he should prove there was something wrong or he should take his words back to convey his regret to Singh,” deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said.

In the Lok Sabha, while turning down the opposition demand in the Question Hour for a discussion on the issue, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said, “The elections are over and the results are out. I cannot allow you to raise the issue here.”

The House was adjourned amid noisy scenes. The protests continued in the Well of the House even in the Zero Hour, with Congress members trying to speak even when not granted permission.

As Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi looked on, party MPs took to addressing the Speaker from the Well one by one though they could not be heard. Meanwhile, the Zero Hour proceedings continued regardless with members from ruling BJP and other parties raising various issues.

Congress leader in the House Mallikarjuna Kharge read out from a written note from his seat despite being disallowed by the Speaker. The Congress walked out shortly thereafter.

It is usually seen as the government’s responsibility to ensure smooth functioning of the House. It may allow a discussion and get an issue done with instead of letting it stall the Parliament’s work. However, the government and the opposition refuse to relent from their respective stands, costing the Parliament valuable time that could be used for debates and discussions over the business to be transacted.

The blame for disruptions always falls on the opposition parties, although during the previous, UPA government’s time, the charge was that the government was ‘shying away from a debate’.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Centre ready for NEET debate in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi’s paper leak claims to be investigated: JP Nadda

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the government is prepared for a detailed Parliament debate on the NEET paper leak issue and will investigate Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of multiple paper leaks over the last decade.

Published

22 hours ago

on

July 22, 2026

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JP-Nadda

The Centre has reiterated its willingness to hold a detailed discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament, with Union Health Minister JP Nadda saying the government is prepared for a debate of any duration. He also said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of around 152 examination paper leaks over the past 10 years would be investigated.

Government open to debate of any duration

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, JP Nadda said the government has consistently supported a discussion on the paper leak issue in Parliament. He stated that the Opposition could decide the duration of the debate through the Business Advisory Committee, whether it is a short discussion or one extending to 12 or even 18 hours.

Nadda, who is also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, said the government remains fully prepared for a comprehensive discussion and urged the Opposition not to shift its position on the issue.

Rahul Gandhi’s paper leak allegations to be examined

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s recent presentation, Nadda said the Congress leader referred to nearly 150 paper leak incidents over the last decade. He described those claims as a matter that requires investigation and said the government would examine the allegations before presenting the facts to the public.

According to Nadda, a responsible government is committed to verifying such claims and ensuring that the truth is established through due investigation.

Calls for a united approach on NEET issue

Highlighting the significance of the matter, Nadda said the future of students should remain the top priority for both the government and the Opposition. He appealed to political parties to work together in finding a long-term solution to prevent examination irregularities.

He added that safeguarding the interests of students is a shared responsibility and called for constructive cooperation instead of political differences.

Nadda on meeting with CJP representatives

The Union Minister also spoke about his recent interaction with representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). He said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, during which the government listened to their concerns and asked them to submit their suggestions in writing.

Nadda said the government remains open to further discussions whenever required and clarified that no meeting with the group was held on Wednesday.

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Opposition demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before NEET discussion in Parliament

The Opposition has demanded Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before any discussion on the NEET paper leak in Parliament, while the Centre says it is fully prepared for a debate.

Published

1 day ago

on

July 22, 2026

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The political deadlock over the NEET paper leak issue continued in Parliament on Wednesday, with Opposition parties demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before any discussion takes place. The Centre, however, maintained that it is fully prepared to debate the matter during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

Leading the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said there could be no fair discussion on the NEET issue unless Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post.

Centre rejects Opposition’s condition

Responding to the Opposition’s demand, Leader of the House JP Nadda said the government was not avoiding a discussion and remained open to debating all issues, including the alleged NEET paper leak.

He said the government had already made its position clear and described it as transparent, adding that it was willing to discuss every matter raised by the Opposition.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also reiterated that the Centre had been ready for discussions since the beginning of the Monsoon Session. He said the government had consistently conveyed its willingness to debate the NEET issue and other important matters.

Rijiju added that if the Opposition was looking for reasons to avoid a discussion, it would not be appropriate. According to him, the procedure and timing of the debate would be decided after consultations among all parties under the Chair’s guidance.

Opposition maintains resignation demand

The government also informed the House that its willingness to discuss the issue had been communicated to Congress leaders and representatives of other political parties.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed the Opposition’s stand, saying students were seeking the resignation of the Education Minister before any discussion. He asserted that the resignation should come first, followed by parliamentary debate on the issue.

Akhilesh Yadav also joined Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs during a march towards the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on Tuesday as part of the protest over the NEET controversy.

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Dharmendra Pradhan accuses Rahul Gandhi of exploiting students over NEET protest

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of exploiting students during the NEET protest, while reiterating the Centre’s commitment to discussing the issue in Parliament and implementing reforms.

Published

1 day ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

Dharmendra Pradhan

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the protest held outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday, accusing the Opposition of using students for political purposes amid the controversy over the NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress leaders and workers staged the protest, raising concerns over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination leaks. The demonstration also highlighted the alleged police action against students who participated in a march to Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) a day earlier.

The protest continued until the evening before police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders. They were later released the same night.

Pradhan says Parliament discussion was offered

Responding to the protest, Mr Pradhan alleged that the Congress was attempting to create disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament by turning students into political tools. He also claimed the demonstration violated security protocols and caused inconvenience to the public.

The minister referred to remarks made by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who had earlier said he spoke with Rahul Gandhi during the protest. According to Mr Singh, the Centre agreed to hold a discussion in Parliament on the paper leak issue, but Rahul Gandhi later added another demand after that assurance.

Mr Pradhan said the government had already expressed its willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion on the issue in Parliament, but alleged that the Congress preferred political confrontation over democratic debate.

Centre reiterates commitment to students

The Education Minister said the government remains committed to discussing the NEET controversy and addressing the concerns of students and young people through Parliament.

In a post on X, Mr Pradhan said students deserve certainty, solutions and accountability rather than political confrontation. He added that the Centre remains committed to delivering reforms and answering students’ concerns while working to strengthen the examination system.

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