Opposition Demands Debate on NEET Paper Leak, Temple Donations; Government Lists Eight Bills for Monsoon Session
The monsoon session of Parliament is set to begin on Monday, with the opposition pushing for discussions on several contentious issues, including the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, the NEET-UG paper leak, and the controversy over E20 petrol. The government, however, has listed eight bills for the session, with no mention of the proposed constitutional amendment on women's reservation or delimitation.
At an all-party meeting convened by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, representatives from 40 parties discussed the agenda. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged the opposition to adopt a consultative approach rather than a 'my way or highway' attitude. 'Congress has every right to raise its demand, but it cannot force the government,' Rijiju said, responding to a letter from Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to Prime Minister Modi demanding a probe into the temple donations and other issues.
Several opposition MPs, including SP's Dharmendra Yadav, raised the issue of the NEET-UG paper leak, which has sparked protests at Jantar Mantar. RSP MP N K Premachandran called for a structured debate, noting that paper leaks affect a large number of students. The government has not yet responded to the demand for a discussion, but Rijiju indicated that new items could be added after consultations in the Business Advisory Committee.
On the issue of fuel prices, BJP ally and JDU MP Sanjay Jha credited the government for managing the impact of the West Asia crisis, arguing that price increases in India were minimal compared to other countries. He sought a debate on the regional crisis, highlighting the government's efforts to secure alternative energy sources.
Rijiju warned that political parties that disrupt Parliament often pay a price in subsequent elections, apparently referring to the recent defeats of regional parties like Trinamool Congress and DMK in assembly polls. The opposition, however, remains determined to raise issues that they believe affect the public interest.
