'You let BJP, Cong speak, but not us': Akhilesh erupts in LS over NEET discussion

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav erupted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, accusing Speaker Om Birla of unfairly restricting his party’s opportunity to discuss the NEET paper leak controversy, while allowing the government and Congress to present their views. Speaking passionately in the House, Yadav emphasized that the issue concerned the youth and students rather than political factions. “This is not an issue concerning the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, or the BJP. This is an issue concerning the youth and students,” he said, expressing frustration over what he described as unequal treatment of opposition parties. Yadav questioned the Speaker’s decision to permit interventions by the government and Congress but not his party, stating, “You allowed them to speak. You called them. Have you reached some kind of understanding with them? Why didn’t you allow us to speak? We requested just one minute. Why was that denied?” Yadav’s remarks followed a day of protests outside the Prime Minister’s residence, where he and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress MPs, were forcibly removed and detained by the police. The incident highlighted growing tensions over the handling of the NEET paper leak controversy, which has sparked widespread student protests. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had previously assured that the government was prepared for a detailed discussion on the issue, while Congress leader KC Venugopal reiterated the opposition’s call for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Yadav stressed that the controversy transcended party politics and was fundamentally about the future of millions of students. “No, this is not the right approach. We are all fighting for the students. If their voices are not heard here, they will be forced to take to the streets,” he said. He defended the protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence, asserting that it became necessary because the issue was not being adequately addressed within the House. “We were compelled to go to the Prime Minister’s residence. Had you allowed us to raise the issue in the House, we would not have gone there,” he added. Yadav also alleged that protesting students had faced excessive police action on June 20 during their Parliament march, claiming that they were beaten, their hands were broken, and the clothes of women protesters were torn. “The real question is the way students were treated,” he said, arguing that the issue was larger than demands for ministerial resignations. “The government can ask a minister to resign whenever it wants… That is not the issue,” he noted. He further questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not made a statement in Parliament on the controversy. “Can the Prime Minister not make a statement for the youth? If he can speak outside the House, why can’t he speak inside Parliament?” he asked. The controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak continues to divide political circles, with students demanding transparency and accountability. As the debate intensifies, the situation underscores the deepening rift between the ruling government and opposition parties, with each side vying for greater influence in shaping the narrative around the issue. With the government maintaining its stance and the opposition pushing for more direct engagement, the outcome of these discussions could significantly impact the trajectory of the ongoing protests and the broader discourse on educational reforms in India.