New Delhi: Amid the ongoing controversy over the NEET paper leak, the Central Government on Wednesday said it is ready for a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha, while urging the Opposition to debate the issue in Parliament instead of staging street protests. 

The issue was raised soon after the Lok Sabha resumed proceedings following an earlier adjournment. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla invited Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to make a statement on the matter. However, Congress leader K. C. Venugopal intervened, reiterating the Opposition's demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Opposition Seeks Priority Discussion

Addressing the House, Venugopal said the concerns of students across the country should be treated as Parliament's top priority.

"Our demand is simple. When the entire nation is feeling the pain of our students, all other business of the House should be set aside, and this burning issue should be taken up first," he said.

The Opposition has consistently demanded a comprehensive discussion on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and has also sought the resignation of the Education Minister over the handling of the controversy.

Government Open to Detailed Debate

Responding to the Opposition, Kiren Rijiju stated that the government is fully prepared for a detailed discussion on the issue. He clarified that the decision regarding the date, duration, and rules under which the discussion would take place would be made by the Lok Sabha Speaker after consulting floor leaders of various political parties.

Later, speaking to reporters, Rijiju said the government wanted the people to know the steps being taken to address the concerns surrounding the examination.

He also criticised the Opposition for organising protests outside Parliament instead of participating in discussions inside the House.

Speaker Appeals for Order

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged all political parties to maintain order and participate in a constructive debate. He said he had heard the views of both the government and the Opposition and encouraged members to discuss the issue in detail rather than disrupting House proceedings.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed dissatisfaction, claiming he was not given an opportunity to speak despite leaders from the BJP and Congress being allowed to address the House. He argued that if students' interests were affected, Opposition parties had every right to protest both inside and outside Parliament.

House Adjourned Amid Protests

Amid continued sloganeering by Opposition members, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2:00 PM. Several Congress and Samajwadi Party MPs wore black clothes to protest against the alleged NEET paper leak and the police action against demonstrators at Jantar Mantar and other locations in New Delhi.

Separately, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Parliament House.

The NEET paper leak controversy continues to dominate parliamentary proceedings, with the Opposition demanding accountability and the government maintaining that the issue should be addressed through a detailed discussion in Parliament. The matter is expected to remain a key focus during the ongoing session.