The atmosphere in the Lok Sabha turned intensely heated on Wednesday as Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his profound dissatisfaction over not being granted an opportunity to speak during the proceedings. The session was marked by significant drama as opposition members, including those from the Samajwadi Party and Congress, arrived at the Parliament wearing black clothes as a mark of protest against the government. The primary focus of their agitation was the recent lathi charge on students protesting in Delhi and the ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak.
The Outburst in the House
As the proceedings of the House were underway, Akhilesh Yadav became visibly agitated when he felt sidelined, while addressing the Chair, he questioned why he was being denied the chance to voice his concerns. He pointed out that while representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress were given the floor, the Samajwadi Party was being ignored. " This comment suggested a potential secret understanding between the ruling party and the main opposition party, Congress, which caused a stir in the House.
Focus on Student Welfare and Paper Leaks
Elaborating on his stance, Akhilesh Yadav emphasized that the issue of paper leaks isn't merely a political matter for the Congress or the Samajwadi Party; rather, it's a critical issue affecting the future of millions of youths and students. He directly addressed the Speaker, stating that by allowing the BJP and Congress to speak while excluding the SP, a wrong message was being sent, while he warned that if the grievances of students aren't heard within the hallowed halls of Parliament, they will be forced to take their protests to the streets. He highlighted the severity of the situation by mentioning that students had suffered injuries, including broken hands, during the recent protests, while he also raised concerns about the treatment of female protesters, asking if the dignity of daughters would be compromised. He mentioned that they were forced to go to the Prime Minister's residence because their voices weren't being heard.
The Sequence of Events
The tension reached a peak around 12 noon when the Lok Sabha resumed its session amidst loud slogans and chaos. While Akhilesh Yadav and other SP MPs were trying to raise their voices, Speaker Om Birla called upon Congress MP KC Venugopal to speak. Following Venugopal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was given the floor. Feeling slighted, Akhilesh Yadav was seen removing his headphones in anger and turning to leave the House with his fellow MPs. It was at this moment that the Speaker intervened, noting that Akhilesh had also requested to speak and invited him to do so.
Internal Friction Within the Opposition
Sources indicate that the tension didn't end with the adjournment of the House. Even after the session was halted, a conversation took place between KC Venugopal and Akhilesh Yadav. Venugopal reportedly questioned why Akhilesh didn't emphasize the demand for the Education Minister's resignation, noting that it was a key demand of the students. In response, Akhilesh expressed his own grievances, questioning why top Congress leaders had proceeded with a protest outside the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday without informing or taking other opposition parties into confidence. He pointed out that while the Samajwadi Party has been consistently supporting the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, the Congress has maintained its distance from that particular site.
Government's Stance and Adjournment
On behalf of the government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the administration is fully prepared to discuss the NEET paper leak issue, while he mentioned that the government has been open to this discussion since the first day. However, he clarified that the discussion must take place according to established parliamentary rules, while he noted that the timing, duration, and specific rules for the debate would be decided by Speaker Om Birla after consultations with leaders of all political parties. Earlier, when the House resumed at 12 PM, KC Venugopal had reiterated the demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He moved an adjournment motion to discuss the NEET issue, citing the "barbaric" action taken against students in the national capital on Monday. Despite the government's expressed willingness to talk, the persistent shouting and protests from opposition members led Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the meeting until 2 PM.