Today, as the Parliament reconvenes, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are preparing for intense discussions on urgent matters such as the NEET paper leak, inflation, and the new criminal laws.
Top Highlights :
- The Lok Sabha encountered interruptions on Friday when Speaker Om Birla refused the Opposition’s plea to give precedence to a discussion on the NEET paper leak over addressing the Motion of Thanks. This ruling resulted in a stalemate, as Opposition members, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, argued that the NEET matter required urgent attention. Consequently, the House was adjourned until Monday.
- Today, three new criminal laws have been implemented, resulting in notable modifications to India’s criminal justice system. The Congress party has claimed that these laws were approved under duress, as 146 MPs were barred from participating in parliamentary activities. Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the Congress party, has declared that the INDIA bloc will not tolerate this form of “bulldozer justice.”
- The NEET-UG exam, administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, attracted approximately 24 lakh candidates. Accusations of question paper leaks emerged in regions such as Bihar following the release of results on June 4, leading to extensive demonstrations.
- The CBI has arrested a total of six individuals in its investigation into the alleged malpractices in conducting the NEET-UG exam, with the recent arrest of the principal of a private school in Godhra, Gujarat.
- Upon the Lok Sabha reconvening, it is anticipated that BJP MP Anurag Thakur will initiate the discussion on the Motion of Thanks. Following this, Bansuri Swaraj, a newly elected Lok Sabha member and the daughter of the late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, will second the motion. The debate is set to span 16 hours, culminating in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response on Tuesday.
- Opposition Members of Parliament are anticipated to continue pressing for a debate on the NEET issue, while also voicing worries regarding inflation and unemployment.
- The Rajya Sabha witnessed a similar atmosphere to that of the Lok Sabha, as tensions ran high during the session on Friday. Calls for a debate on the NEET issue led to protests by Opposition members, with Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge taking an active role in the demonstration alongside fellow lawmakers in the Well of the House.
- Amidst the uproar in the session, Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam fainted due to high blood pressure while taking part in the protests, resulting in her being transferred to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
- Despite these disruptions, the Rajya Sabha has set aside 21 hours for discussing the Motion of Thanks, and Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to give his response on Wednesday.
- Rahul Gandhi emphasized on Sunday that the Leader of Opposition serves as a crucial democratic instrument in India. He pledged to amplify the concerns and issues of the people in Parliament with utmost vigor.