Monsoon Session of Parliament remained stalled for the fifth straight day on Friday, as continuous disruptions led to the adjournment of both Houses.
The opposition again pressed for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET question paper leak. The House is now scheduled to reconvene on Monday.
The government, however, insisted that blocking a debate on the matter would convey the wrong message to the nation.
Meanwhile, opposition parties, led by the Congress, kept disrupting the proceedings by shouting slogans, storming into the well of the House, and pressing for an immediate discussion on the paper leak through adjournment motion and Rule 267 notices in the Rajya Sabha.
When the Lok Sabha reassembled at noon after an earlier adjournment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged the opposition to allow a discussion on the issue. Pointing towards Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Rijiju said the government had repeatedly reached out to opposition parties to facilitate a debate on the alleged paper leak.
The Centre argued that a majority of Members of Parliament wanted the House to function and discuss the issue, but the continued disruptions by a section of MPs were preventing Parliament from carrying out its business.
The opposition, however, remained firm on its demand for Pradhan's resignation before any discussion in parliament, with Rahul Gandhi asserting that all INDIA bloc parties were united on the issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the studnets in a social media post late Friday night, expressing support for students affected by the alleged paper leak and reiterating the government's commitment to ensuring a transparent examination system.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, social activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday after breaking his fast in the presence of Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.
In a video posted on X, Wangchuk said he decided to end his fast after receiving written assurances from the government.
According to Wangchuk, the Centre assured that students who participated in the July 20 protest would not face prosecution, that compensation would be considered for the families of students who died by suicide, and that the issue of examination paper leaks would be discussed in Parliament to explore long-term solutions.
