'NEET discussion should be held at the earliest': Kiren Rijiju
New Delhi, July 22
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday urged all parties, specifically the Opposition, to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in order to decide on a date, time and rule for conducting a discussion on NEET paper leak in the Parliament, "without wasting time".
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House, Rijiju said: "The government has today stated in the Parliament that it is fully prepared to discuss the NEET paper leak and all related issues. We have said from the very first day that the government is always ready to discuss any issue that is in the interest of the nation and the youth."
However, he said it has to be decided under which rule the discussion will take place in the House.
"There is a system in Parliament for holding discussions. It is not appropriate to go directly to the streets and create a ruckus. The discussion should be meaningful. It should take place under the rules and in a positive manner. The government wants a comprehensive discussion on the NEET paper leak so that the country knows what steps have been taken by the government," he said.
The Union Minister further said that the government will also discuss the incidents that took place after the NEET paper leak and that the country deserves to know about the action being taken against the accused arrested in connection with the case.
"We are saying that to discuss under a specific rule, all parties should meet the Speaker (of Lok Sabha) and take a uniform decision on when to have a discussion on the issue, under which rule, and for how long the discussion will take place. The government is ready to listen and address the people of the country," he added.
Rijiju stressed that a meaningful discussion is also required in the House regarding the steps being taken for the welfare of the nation's youth.
"Therefore, I appeal (the Opposition) once again...though we have formally agreed for the discussion on behalf of the government, to decide on the time to hold the discussion," he added.
The BJP leader reiterated: "According to the demand of all parties, the NEET paper leak should be the first issue to be discussed in the House, without wasting the time of the Parliament. That is why, without any delay, the parties should meet the Speaker and decide the date, time and rule to have this discussion."
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who has followed this from abroad, it's shocking to see how a national exam like NEET can be compromised. Rijiju's call for a rules-based discussion is reasonable, but let's be real—this has been going on for weeks. The Opposition wants a debate under a specific rule to force action, while the government prefers a general one. Both sides need to compromise for the students' sake. 🙏
I'm a parent of a NEET aspirant, and this constant delay is heartbreaking. My daughter studied day and night, and now she's terrified about the exam's credibility. Rijiju says the government is ready to discuss, but the Opposition's theatrics in Parliament haven't helped either. Can't they just sit together and sort this out? The future of 20 lakh students depends on it. 😔
Honestly, both sides are at fault here. The government should have addressed this crisis sooner instead of dragging it into Parliament's procedural games. And the Opposition's demand for an Adjournment Motion is justified to hold the government accountable. But Rijiju's point about having a meaningful discussion under agreed rules is valid—if they keep fighting over procedure, students suffer. Time for maturity! 🤦♂️
This whole situation is giving major deja vu—remember the UPSC leaks? Every time something like this happens, there's a lot of talk but little action. Rijiju saying "don't go to the streets and create a ruckus" feels like a subtle dig at protesting students. Look, we understand Parliament has rules, but this is an emergency. The government should have proactively set up a discussion timeline without the Opposition having to push for it. 🕊️
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.