The government is prepared to tackle the Opposition, which is likely to raise the issue of alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam in Parliament on Friday, sources told.
The Lok Sabha saw uproarious scenes as the newly elected members took oath in the Lower House. Several Opposition MPs raised slogans around NEET issue when the members of the ruling NDA were taking oath.
According to sources, the Opposition could raise the NEET issue during the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in both the Houses. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan could intervene if the Opposition raises the NEET issue in Lok Sabha on Friday.
"The government will respond to all queries of the Opposition on the NEET issue as required actions have been taken by the ruling dispensation to fix the problem," a source in the government told .
In a meeting of floor leaders of INDIA bloc held at Congress President Malikarjun Kharge’s residence, the NEET issue was discussed in detail. In fact, there was a consensus that the Opposition would press for a discussion on the issue in both Houses.
The meeting was attended by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leaders Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, DMK leader Kanimozhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut, Priyanka Chaturvedi and Arvind Sawant, AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Sandeep Pathak and others.
"On Friday, we are going to stick to our demand for discussion on NEET issue. It's time that the government responds. We will participate on Vote of Thanks to the President's address from Monday," said Left Leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.
Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, held two meetings with floor leaders within three days in attempt to ensure that there is proper coordination.
On Thursday, Kharge criticised the President's address in a joint session of Parliament, saying there was no mention of the resolution to irregularities in NEET and other pressing issues.
"Listening to the President's address written by the Modi government, it seemed as if Modi ji is in a perpetual state of denial! The mandate was against him because the people of the country rejected his slogan of "400 plus" and kept the BJP away from the figure of 272. Modi ji is unable to accept this, that is why he is pretending that nothing has changed, but the truth is that the people of the country had asked for change," Kharge said in a post on X.
"Overall, Modi ji is making a futile attempt to garner some applause by making the Honourable President read lies, which the people of India have rejected in the 2024 elections," he said while referring to the President's address to the joint sitting of both houses.
The NEET-UG exam was held on May 5 and the results were declared on June 5. The medical entrance exam has been mired in controversy due to allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities in Patna.
The CBI on Thursday made its first arrests in the NEET-UG paper leak case, taking two people into custody in Patna.
