Amid Lok Sabha logjam, Centre offers debate on NEET paper leak, says street protests ‘won’t help’

Amid repeated disruptions, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) told the Lok Sabha that the government is ready to discuss the NEET paper leak even as Opposition parties insisted that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign over the controversy.

Opposition protests led to repeated adjournments of Parliament as soon as hearings began at 11 am. When the Lok Sabha reconvened at noon, Speaker Om Birla asked Mr. Rijiju to make a statement.

‘Pradhan should resign’

Congress leader KC Venugopal intervened, saying the Opposition’s demand went beyond debate and included resignation of Mr. Pradhan.

“Our demand is simple. While the entire nation feels the pain of our students, all other business of the House should be kept aside and this burning issue should be the top priority of the Parliament,” Mr. Venugopal said. He requested Mr. Birla to allow an adjournment motion on the matter, a parliamentary instrument by which the House postpones all other business and starts discussing the issue on which the motion is moved.

Replying to him, Mr. Rijiju said the government was ready to discuss the issue. He said the speaker will hold consultations with floor leaders to decide on the rules, date and duration of the debate.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav objected, saying that while members of the BJP and Congress were allowed to speak, he was not. When Mr. Birla requested him to speak, Mr. Yadav said that the Opposition would continue its protests inside and outside the Assembly if the interests of students were harmed.

‘Discuss with an open mind’

Mr Birla later said he had heard the views of all parties and the government’s willingness to discuss the issue “with an open mind”. He called on opposition members to join the debate instead of entering the Parliamentary Well and disrupting the proceedings.

The House was once again adjourned till 2 pm after opposition members shouted slogans and Samajwadi Party MPs dressed in black to protest the alleged paper leak and police action against demonstrators at Jantar Mantar and other places.

Street protests and LS controversy

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament later, Mr Rijiju said the government was ready for a “detailed discussion” so that the country would know the steps being taken to resolve the dispute.

He accused the Opposition of preferring street protests over a parliamentary debate, saying that issues affecting students and the youth should be discussed in Parliament. He said street protests will not yield results.

Separately, Mr Pradhan met the Speaker at Parliament House.

The opposition has been pressing for a debate on the alleged examination irregularities, while insisting that Mr Pradhan resign over his handling of the issue.