Kiren Rijiju Accuses Opposition of Avoiding NEET Paper Leak Debate in Parliament

New Delhi, July 23: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused the Opposition of avoiding a parliamentary discussion on the NEET paper leak controversy, alleging that parties in the INDIA bloc imposed new conditions despite earlier agreeing to a debate.

Addressing reporters, Rijiju said the government had held consultations with leaders from several Opposition parties to facilitate a structured discussion in Parliament. According to him, there was broad agreement initially, but the Opposition later introduced fresh demands, preventing the debate from moving forward.

The minister said the Centre remained prepared for a comprehensive discussion on examination paper leaks and maintained that the issue should not be limited to a single examination or one state. He argued that any debate should cover paper leak incidents reported across the country, including those involving both state-level and central examination agencies.

Rijiju also said the government intended to present the measures already taken after the NEET paper leak controversy, including re-examinations where required, timely declaration of results and steps aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.

Backing the government’s position, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said strict legal action should be taken against those arrested in connection with paper leak cases. He added that the Prime Minister had directed that experienced legal counsel be engaged to ensure the accused receive stringent punishment under the law.

The remarks came amid tense scenes inside the Parliament complex, where MPs from the NDA and the INDIA bloc staged rival demonstrations over the examination controversy. Opposition members continued to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while BJP leaders accused the Opposition of obstructing parliamentary proceedings instead of participating in a debate.

The situation briefly escalated when MPs from both sides confronted each other near Makar Dwar, prompting Parliament security personnel to intervene and separate the groups. Slogans were exchanged during the protest, adding to the political confrontation.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government would establish fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials in paper leak cases and reiterated that protecting the future of students remains a top priority. He also assured that those responsible for compromising the integrity of examinations would face strict action.

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s statement, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi renewed his demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and called for an apology to students, alleging that the government had failed to address systemic issues in the education system.