Parliament session highlights: Govt ‘ready to prioritise paper leak issue’, says Oppn can decide date, duration

Parliament session LIVE: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till tomorrow amid disruptions in the House.

Parliament session LIVE: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday took a swipe at the government over the ongoing Parliament standoff on the NTA paper leak issue, drawing a comparison with the Vyapam scam that had disrupted the Monsoon Session of Parliament in 2015.

In a post on X, Ramesh said the 2015 Monsoon Session was almost completely stalled due to the Vyapam examination and recruitment scam in Madhya Pradesh, while the current Monsoon Session has been affected by the NTA paper leak controversy.

"How time marches and nothing changes!" Ramesh wrote.

Parliament session LIVE: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said he had spoken to several Opposition leaders the previous day, and “everyone said we should find a way forward.” Rijiju said he had hoped the discussion on NEET would begin today.

“But later, they started imposing conditions and offering different excuses. Even in the evening, I hoped we would continue discussions with the Congress and other Opposition parties to arrive at a consensus,” Rijiju told PTI news agency.

Parliament session LIVE: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday criticised the government over the student protests.

“He (PM Modi) takes credit for going to Mars, he takes credit for every achievement which is the achievement of our youth and the achievement of our people. He takes credit, doesn't he? So now is the time for him to take responsibility for his actions,” Priyanka said, according to PTI news agency.

Parliament session LIVE: Congress MP KC Venugopal on Thursday rejected union parliamentary affairs minister KC Venugopal's statement that the Opposition was avoiding a discussion in Parliament on the NEET paper leak issue.

“Whatever the Parliamentary Affairs Minister is saying is a completely misleading statement. From day one, the entire nation--students, families, and citizens--all are demanding the resignation of the Education Minister, who is totally responsible for the entire crisis,” Venugopal said, according to ANI news agency.

Parliament session LIVE: The government is “ready to prioritise the paper leak issue over other parliamentary business”, union minister Kiren Rijiju told PTI news agency.

Rijiju urged the Opposition to not “derail the discussion by placing conditions”, and said the union government was willing to accomodate their preferences regarding the date and duration of the debate.

Parliament session LIVE: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday appealed to the Opposition to “not stall Parliament”, saying they can raise their issues “while participating in the debate.”

“If you want debate and discussion, then you should play a positive role. Whatever demands or suggestions the Opposition has, they can raise them while participating in the debate... With an open heart, we appeal to the Opposition not to stall Parliament...” Rijiju told PTI news agency.

Parliament session LIVE: Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Thursday said “merely announcing fast-track courts will not solve the systemic problem of paper leaks.”

Speaking to PTI news agency, Karti said Centre must “identify gaps in the supply chain and, explain corrective measures and fix accountability.”

Parliament session LIVE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday dismissed union minister Kiren Rijiju's claim that Opposition was “fleeing” from discussion on paper leaks.

“If they were ready for a discussion, it would have started on the first day we demanded it. Why were they not ready? Later, you lathi-charged the students...” Kharge told ANI news agency.

“We are Members of Parliament, but the people from the ruling party themselves blocked the door today. They should be ashamed. Until he (Dharmendra Pradhan) resigns, this will not work,” Kharge added.

Parliament session LIVE: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee raised slogans standing on the stairs of the Parliament on Thursday, according to visuals shared by PTI news agency.

This came a day after he was suspended from Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Monsoon Session for using 'undignified' language against women members after he had a heated exchange with the NCPI members in the Lower House chamber.

Parliament session LIVE: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said he had spoken to several Opposition leaders the previous day, and “everyone said we should find a way forward.” Rijiju said he had hoped the discussion on NEET would begin today.

“But later, they started imposing conditions and offering different excuses. Even in the evening, I hoped we would continue discussions with the Congress and other Opposition parties to arrive at a consensus,” Rijiju told PTI news agency.

Parliament session LIVE: Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday said speedy trials would be conducted through fast-track courts for NEET paper leak accused.

“Through fast-track courts, speedy trials will be conducted and justice will be delivered faster; this is a very important decision,” Meghwal told PTI news agency.

Parliament session LIVE: Union home minister Amit Shah said the welfare of the youth and their bright future is both the highest priority and the resolve of the Modi government.

Shah said PM Modi's decision to expedite hearings and take stringent action against the guilty in paper leak cases through fast-track courts “is a reflection of this commitment.” The union home minister said this was an important step against those who toy with the future of the youth and would prove to be a “milestone.”

Parliament session LIVE: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday alleged the Opposition was trying to “run away” from the discussion on paper leak by attaching “pre-conditions and excuses.”

This comes even as the Opposition has stated that the discussion would only take place after union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Several Oppositions MPs have urged for the discussion to be held under Rule 267.

Parliament session LIVE: BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said the Centre and Lok Sabha had agreed for a discussion on the NEET paper leak in Parliament.

“It's unfortunate; Centre and Lok Sabha Speaker agreed for discussion on paper leak but Opposition is running away; big question is that they just want to do ‘hungama,’” Prasad told PTI news agency.

Parliament session LIVE: The Opposition can decide the date and duration of discussion on the NEET paper leak, union parliamentary affairs Kiren Rijiju said in Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Parliament session LIVE: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla amid disruptions to the Parliament session, PTI news agency reported.

TMC leaders Saugata Roy and Mahua Moitra were also present at the meeting. During the Question Hour, Birla had asked opposition leaders to meet him to discuss the duration and date of the discussion.

Parliament session LIVE: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday, amid an impasse over discussion on NEET and paper leaks. The Opposition has demanded the resignation of union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was ready to hold discussion on the issue in both Houses but there should be no conditions attached.