Heated debates on a range of issues like the NEET paper leak row, the Agnipath initiative and inflation are on the cards
NEW DELHI, June 30: Parliament is set to witness heated debates on a range of issues like the NEET paper leak row, the Agnipath initiative and inflation when both houses reconvene on Monday.
Besides the paper leak matter, the opposition is also likely to raise the issue of unemployment.
In the Lok Sabha, BJP member and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur is set to initiate the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.
The Motion will be seconded by first term Lok Sabha member Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of BJP stalwart late Sushma Swaraj.
The Lok Sabha has allocated 16 hours for the debate on the Motion of Thanks, which will conclude with the reply by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
In the Rajya Sabha, 21 hours have been set aside for the debate and the prime minister is likely to reply on Wednesday.
Parliament has been rocked by protests over the NEET issue.
NEET-UG was conducted by the NTA on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates appearing.
The results were announced on June 4, but they were followed by allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar, besides other irregularities.
Initiating the debate in the Rajya Sabha, BJP member Sudhanshu Trivedi had described Modi as “atulniya” (matchless) and asserted that there was a vast difference in his approach towards dealing with issues facing the nation and the one adopted by the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
BJP member Kavita Patidar seconded the motion and nine others have participated in the discussion so far.
Opposition INDIA bloc members forced adjournment in the Lok Sabha on Friday, when the House was to take up the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, demanding a dedicated discussion on the NEET issue.
The Rajya Sabha had witnesses vociferous protests during the debate with the opposition demanding a discussion on the NEET row and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge trooping into the Well of the House to join fellow members.
Congress member Phulo Devi Netam from Chhattisgarh fainted in the Rajya Sabha while raising slogans, apparently due to high blood pressure, and was rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
Opposition members slammed the government for not adjourning the proceedings of the House and showing lack of concern for the health of a Rajya Sabha member.
PASWAN DEFENDS GOVT
Union minister Chirag Paswan asserted that the government was in touch with “all stakeholders” in the NEET paper leak case and a decision “in the best interests of students” will be taken at an “appropriate” time.
Talking to reporters here on Saturday, he also slammed the opposition for stalling Parliament’s proceedings over the issue, alleging that it reflected a “flawed mindset” (galat soch).
“The NEET case is being probed by agencies concerned and the matter is also before a court of law. Nonetheless, the government is holding talks with all the stakeholders. An appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time, in the best interests of students”, Paswan said.
He was responding to queries about the ruckus in Parliament a day ago, when the uproar by the opposition led to repeated adjournments.
The young leader said, “The opposition is displaying a flawed mindset. If it wants to raise issues concerning the public, it must allow the House to run properly and take part in debates and discussions”.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president was on his first tour of Bihar, his home state, since he was inducted into the Union cabinet earlier this month.
Replying to another query, Paswan said NDA ally Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister who heads the JD(U), will “lead” the coalition in state assembly polls due next year.
Asked about the opposition’s charge that recent spurt in crime in Bihar signalled a worsening of law and order, the Hajipur LJP MP said, “The situation may be a cause for concern but the government in the state is competent to tackle it”.
Paswan also addressed a function where newly elected MPs of his party, which won all the five seats it had contested, were felicitated.
He expressed delight that unlike in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, in Bihar “the people were not swayed by false propaganda of the opposition that the NDA was out to scrap the Constitution and do away with reservations”. (PTI)