Parliament Adjourned Till Monday Amid Uproar Over NEET, Opposition Demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation
Sunil Negi
New Delhi: Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till Monday after uproarious scenes in Parliament on Friday, with the entire Opposition led by INDIA bloc MPs demanding “nothing less than the resignation” of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak and alleged irregularities in other exams.
The day began with Opposition MPs trooping into the Well of both Houses holding placards and banners. They raised slogans of “We want justice” and “Dharmendra Pradhan isteefa do”, disrupting proceedings within minutes of the Houses convening.
The Speaker in Lok Sabha and the Vice Chairman in Rajya Sabha repeatedly urged members to return to their seats and allow discussion, but the Opposition remained “on its toes” and refused to heed the Chair.
“We will not allow any discussion on NEET or any other examination policy unless the Union Education Minister resigns,” senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said outside Parliament. Leaders of Congress, TMC, DMK, SP, RJD and other INDIA constituents stood together at the Makar Dwar, holding banners that read “Save Students, Sack Pradhan” and “Justice for Aspirants”.
Amid the ruckus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue in a video message released late Thursday night and also posted on X. He said the government is “with every student and every parent” and that those responsible for compromising the sanctity of exams will face the strictest action.
The PM’s remarks came as the government indicated it is preparing to bring a stringent law on fast-track courts for paper leaks.
Sources said the proposed legislation will provide for severe punishment, including jail terms and heavy fines, and will set up special courts to ensure time-bound trials in cases of exam malpractices. The Bill is expected to be introduced in the upcoming session.
Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh also appealed to the Opposition to allow debate. “The government has no prestige issue. We are ready to discuss NEET, NTA reforms, and all concerns. But disruption is not the answer,” Nadda told reporters.
Parliament logjam comes against the backdrop of days-long protests at Jantar Mantar, where thousands of students have been camping since Monday’s “Sansad Chalo” march. Several students and police personnel were injured in the lathicharge and tear gas shelling during the march.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 25-day hunger strike on Wednesday night after the government assured him that no punitive action or FIRs would be filed against peaceful protesters. In a letter to Nadda and Singh, Wangchuk had also sought compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following exam leaks and a parliamentary discussion on accountability.
Veteran BJP leader Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi and anti-corruption crusader *Anna Hazare* also condemned the police action and urged the government to handle student anxieties “with empathy and a desire to find a lasting solution.”
INDIA bloc leaders said the adjournments showed the government was “running away from accountability”. Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav led the protest inside the House, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused sections of the media of “ignoring questions to the Education Minister”.
The Opposition led by LOP Rahul Gandhi argues that over 20 student suicides in recent months and repeated paper leaks point to systemic failure in the NTA and the Ministry of Education. They are demanding:
1. Immediate resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan
2. A Supreme Court-monitored judicial probe into NEET and other exam leaks
3. Rs 1 crore compensation for families of students who died by suicide
4. Reforms in NTA and a new, tamper-proof examination system. Rahul Gandhi demanded that prime minister Narendra Modi seek apology from the students.
With both Houses adjourned till Monday, the government is expected to reach out to floor leaders over the weekend to break the deadlock.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said “dialogue is the only way forward” and that the proposed anti-paper-leak law could be taken up for discussion if the Opposition cooperates.
Outside Parliament, thousands of students continue their sit-in at Jantar Mantar. Organisers said they will wait to see what assurance the government gives on Monday before deciding on the next course of action.
The monsoon session, already washed out for three days over NEET, faces the risk of further disruptions unless a middle ground is found between the government’s offer to discuss reforms and the Opposition’s insistence on the minister’s resignation.
