Big leaders of Congress and Samajwadi Party may be seen united on the streets regarding the protests and demands in the NEET paper leak case, but their opinions do not seem to be the same inside the House. When the Lok Sabha proceedings began this afternoon, there was an uproar. SP MPs including Akhilesh Yadav were asking for a chance to express their views. Although Akhilesh Yadav wanted to present his point, the Speaker asked Congress’s K.C. Venugopal was called to speak. After him, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke. However, Akhilesh later indirectly denied the reports of argument with Venugopal.
What did Akhilesh say about the conversation with Venugopal?
While talking to the media in the Parliament complex, Akhilesh Yadav made it clear that the Samajwadi Party demands that the Education Minister resign before any talks. He K.C. Indirectly rejected reports of any argument or quarrel with Venugopal. Sources close to Akhilesh said that his sarcastic comment about the “deal” was meant for the Speaker and not for the Congress party.
It is noteworthy that Akhilesh had earlier expressed his displeasure over the fact that only BJP and Congress were given the opportunity to speak on the NEET paper leak issue in the Lok Sabha. Expressing his objection to Speaker Om Birla, Akhilesh asked, “You gave BJP and Congress a chance to speak; have you made any deal with them? Speaker sir, this approach is not right at all. These youth and students belong to all of us; we all are fighting for them. This issue is not of BJP, Congress or SP – it is the issue of students.” Now between him and K.C. There have been reports of a heated argument between Venugopal.
According to sources, K.C. Venugopal questioned Akhilesh about this claim. In response, the SP chief reiterated his point and said that resignations can be given later also, but the main need is to fix accountability for the atrocities on students. There was an argument between the two on this issue. **Akhilesh’s anger in the house**
Speaking on the NEET issue in the House, Akhilesh said that this is not a matter of Congress, Samajwadi Party or BJP; Rather, this matter is related to youth and students. He warned that if the students were not listened to, they would take to the streets. He criticized the government’s handling of the protests and alleged excessive force was used against students—citing incidents in which students suffered injuries to their arms, legs and heads and had their clothes torn.
**’I was the one who reached outside PM’s residence with the crowd’**
According to sources, talks continued between Venugopal and Akhilesh Yadav even after the House proceedings were adjourned. Venugopal asked Akhilesh why he did not press for his resignation when he was only raising the demands of the students. Akhilesh also expressed his displeasure over why senior Congress leaders staged a protest outside the PM residence without informing or taking other opposition parties into confidence the previous day—especially since he himself had reached there with the crowd. After this, Akhilesh Yadav also met the Speaker.
**Akhilesh angry with Congress getting opportunity**
Earlier, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal raised the issue of NEET in the House and demanded a detailed discussion on it. In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju clarified that the government is ready to discuss the matter. Speaker Om Birla said that the opinions of all parties have been heard: Samajwadi Party wanted discussion, Congress wanted discussion and the government was also ready for it. However, he said that discussion cannot take place when members are standing in the gallery of the House. After this, the proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm.
