Government-Congress ‘Understanding’ on NEET? Akhilesh Yadav Questions Discussion

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav strongly objected in the Lok Sabha after the Speaker initially denied him an opportunity to speak on the NEET-UG paper leak and the police action against students during the July 20 youth protest. Parliament witnessed repeated disruptions for the third consecutive day as opposition members demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and a detailed discussion on the examination controversy. Speaker Om Birla allowed Congress leader KC Venugopal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to address the House, prompting Akhilesh Yadav to question why his party did not receive the same opportunity. He argued that the issue affected students across the country and deserved participation from every opposition party instead of selective interventions.

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Akhilesh Yadav Objects After Being Denied Chance to Speak in Lok Sabha

A visibly upset Akhilesh Yadav removed his headphones and prepared to leave the House with Samajwadi Party lawmakers after noticing that other leaders received speaking time before him. Speaker Om Birla then intervened and invited the Samajwadi Party chief to present his views during the ongoing proceedings. Akhilesh questioned whether the government and the Congress had reached an understanding after both sides received opportunities to speak while his party initially remained sidelined. He stressed that the controversy involved students and young aspirants rather than political parties. Akhilesh maintained that Parliament should prioritize the concerns of students instead of allowing political disagreements to overshadow the debate surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak.

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several opposition leaders in protesting against the police crackdown on students and the detention of opposition representatives. Opposition MPs attended Parliament wearing black clothes to register their protest against the government’s handling of the issue. Akhilesh demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and warned that students would return to the streets if authorities continued ignoring their concerns. Referring to Tuesday’s protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, Akhilesh said the opposition approached the Prime Minister only because Parliament did not allow a proper discussion. He insisted that such demonstrations would have become unnecessary if lawmakers had received adequate opportunities inside the House.

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Akhilesh Says NEET Issue Concerns Students, Not Political Parties

Akhilesh Yadav also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for remaining silent on the alleged police action against students who participated in the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march toward Parliament. He questioned why the Prime Minister addressed issues outside Parliament but avoided making a statement before lawmakers on a matter concerning the country’s youth. Akhilesh alleged that several students suffered serious injuries during the police action, including broken bones and head wounds. He also claimed that women students faced mistreatment during the crackdown and questioned whether such treatment reflected the government’s commitment toward protecting young citizens. His remarks quickly attracted widespread attention and generated significant discussion across social media platforms.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju maintained that the government had remained ready to discuss the NEET-UG paper leak issue since the beginning of the Parliament session. He accused the opposition of delaying the discussion despite repeated assurances from the government regarding its willingness to debate the matter. Rijiju said floor leaders from all political parties should jointly decide the duration, timing and procedural rules governing the discussion. Congress leader KC Venugopal responded by reiterating the opposition’s demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before the debate. Speaker Om Birla later informed the House that both the government and the opposition supported holding a discussion and directed floor leaders to finalize an appropriate schedule.

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