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Parliament disrupted again as 2G Case verdict peps up Congress, gives it fresh ammo

Published

9 years ago

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Parliament disrupted again as 2G Case verdict peps up Congress

The 2G scam case against Congress-led UPA falling through in court provided additional ammunition to the Opposition against the ruling BJP and pepped up an already aggressive Congress targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his bizarre accusation of his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh conspiring with Pakistan to influence Gujarat polls.

The mood manifested in the Parliament where the Congress stepped up its attack, once again forcing the Rajya Sabha to be adjourned after 2 pm. Lok Sabha, where the BJP has a majority, continued to function, although amid protests and disruptions.

The ruckus in Rajya Sabha denied cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar his maiden attempt to speak in the House. Tendulkar was to initiate a short duration discussion on the right to play and the future of sports in India, but the protests led Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House for the day. In cricketing parlance, Sachin was sent back to the pavilion without getting a chance to open his account.

The signs were clear from the morning. As soon as the Rajya Sabha met to start its work for the day, Congress members shouted slogans, drowning the voices of other members and forcing Naidu to adjourn the proceedings till 2 PM.

Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad sought an explanation from Modi for the ‘false propaganda’ on the 2G scam to come to power in 2014. He said the Congress has, since the past week, been seeking an explanation from the Prime Minister over his allegations against Singh during the Gujarat polls. After the acquittal of all the 2G case accused, “we want to ask where did all the allegations (of scam) go,” he said.

“The BJP had run a propaganda on the 2G spectrum scam that had helped it “move from that side (opposition side in Rajya Sabha) to this side (ruling side) and us from that side (ruling side) to this side (opposition benches),” Azad said.

Naidu disallowed Azad’s submission saying he had not given any notice. Citing a May 22, 1990 ruling of then Rajya Sabha Chairman Shankar Dayal Sharma, Naidu said that the Chair’s ruling on not allowing suspension of a Question Hour or allowing a discussion was final.

With Congress members refusing to relent and even coming out into the Well of the House, even moving up in front of treasury benches at one point, Naidu finally adjourned the House till 2 pm, after several attempts to silence the agitated MPs and make them return to their seats.

Normally, in case of disruptions in the first hour of the sitting, the Chair adjourns proceedings till noon, and the adjournment till 2 pm was unusual.

After 2 pm, Sachin Tendulkar was to get his turn and make his maiden speech. However, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal said he had a point of order: whether CAG reports can be leaked to newspapers before they are tabled. “Can we summon people responsible for tarnishing those in constitutional offices on the basis of CAG reports,” he wanted to know. The question was in the context of the acquittal of all 2G case accused.

He also asked whether the image of those in constitutional offices can be tarnished on the basis of CAG reports when ‘99 per cent of the points’ raised in them are settled after they reach the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for scrutiny.

After this, when Naidu sought to initiate the discussion on sports saying this was Tendulkar’s maiden speech and he should be heard, several Congress MPs got up and raised the issue of the PM’s remark and demanding his apology, shouting slogans: ‘Desh ko gumrah karna band karo’ (stop misleading the nation).

Naidu’s admonitions failed to restore order in the House. As the protests continued, a livid Naidu asked Tendulkar to proceed. The cricketer got up, but could only look on as noisy protests went on. Naidu decided it was best to adjourn the proceedings for the day.

Thursday, being the Question day for the Prime Minister’s Office in Rajya Sabha, Modi was expected to be present during Question Hour slated at noon.

Meanwhile, a report from news agency ANI said that BJP’s Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has given a notice under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha demanding suspension of business today to discuss “serious situation arising out of the use of derogatory language against PM by senior leaders of Congress”

In Lok Sabha, too, Congress raised the issue of Modi’s remarks against Dr Singh, protesting the Speaker’s decision not to allow them to raise the matter.

The Congress members trooped into the Well during the Question Hour and raised slogans, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan went ahead with the proceedings. Leading the Congress charge was Jyotiraditya Scindia. Little over 30 minutes into the Question Hour, he expressed concern about not being given the chance to raise the issue.

Mahajan said she would not allow them and asserted that the issue was something that was raised at a public meeting and this was an elected House.

An agitated Scindia said the party has been raising the issue for four days but they were not being given an opportunity to speak. “Where is justice,” he asked and wondered “what kind of Parliament is this? Give us a minute (to speak).”

He also took a swipe at the ruling party saying they want to listen to only ‘Mann ki Baat’, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s monthly radio address.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was seen thumping the desk when Scindia was speaking amid the din. Congress MPs kept up the tempo raising slogans: ‘Pradhan Mantri maafi maango (Prime Minister, apologise)’, ‘Taanashahi bandh karo (stop authoritarianism)’ and ‘Shame, shame’.

“It is a serious issue, the allegation was against an ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an ex-Vice President and ex-Army chief,” Scindia said referring to Modi’s remarks at a recent election rally in Gujarat.

Scindia said the voice of opposition was being muffled in the House and questioned if the Government would decide what issues can be raised in the Lok Sabha.

Communist Party of India-Marxist MP Mohammed Salim and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav also came out in support of Congress.

The Speaker, however, did not permit the issue to be raised and proceeded with routine business. Congress members then staged a walkout in protest, with party leader Kharge saying the walkout was being done to “preserve the dignity of the country”.

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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

3 days 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

3 days 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

4 days 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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