'Shocked the conscience of nation': Congress moves motion in Lok Sabha to force Dharmendra Pradhan's statement and resignation
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "'Shocked the conscience of nation': Congress moves motion in Lok Sabha to force Dharmendra Pradhan's statement and resignation")
Protestors injured during the protest march towards parliament (Jul 20). RAF personnel deployed as people gather at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site. Photograph: (Combination created using images from ANI)
Congress MPs K.C. Venugopal and Hibi Eden have moved separate adjournment motions in the Lok Sabha, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak and seeking a discussion on the police action against protesting students.
The Congress party on Wednesday (Jul 22) stepped up its attack on the BJP-led Centre government over the alleged NEET paper leak and police action against protesting students, with two of its MPs moving separate adjournment motions in the Lok Sabha demanding an immediate discussion on the issues.
Dharmendra Pradhan must resign
Congress MP and General Secretary K C Venugopal sought an adjournment motion calling for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to make a suo motu statement in the House explaining the repeated examination paper leak incidents during his tenure. In his notice, Venugopal said Pradhan should take "moral and constitutional responsibility" for the alleged failures in the examination system and resign from office.
"The Government must discuss the NEET and CBSE Issue, examination-related suicides and the crisis in the education sector. Withdrawal of all cases against the students and youth who were peacefully protesting yesterday," he wrote.
Venugopal also alleged that despite the scale of the alleged paper leak scam, no significant action had been taken against those responsible.
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"Despite the magnitude of this fraud, not a single meaningful arrest or criminal action has been taken against the responsible individuals, coaching syndicates, or officials," he said.
He further alleged that Pradhan "continues to hold office without any accountability being fixed, in gross violation of the basic principle of ministerial responsibility."
Hibi Eden seeks discussion on police action
In a separate adjournment motion, Congress MP Hibi Eden sought a discussion on the police action against students who were protesting near Parliament.
The Ernakulam MP said Parliament could not remain a "silent spectator" to reports that thousands of students were subjected to lathicharge and tear gas while demonstrating against what they described as shortcomings in the country's education and examination system.
According to Eden, the students were seeking justice through peaceful and democratic means but were allegedly met with disproportionate force by the Delhi Police. "The reported actions raise serious concerns regarding the protection of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, including the freedoms of speech, peaceful assembly, and expression," he wrote. Eden added that the manner in which the protest was handled had "shocked the conscience of the nation" and was inconsistent with the democratic values that Parliament is duty-bound to uphold.
The adjournment notices come amid the Opposition's continuing demand for accountability over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak controversy.
Opposition protests with black clothes
Opposition MPs staged a protest in black clothes against the government on the Parliament premises. Among those present were the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi; Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav; and Priyanka Gandhi.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that students have legitimate demands and are fighting for their rights. "The education budget is Rs 1.4 lakh crore, but you are waiving Rs 16 lakh crore in loans for Adani and Ambani. Students are facing genuine hardships and demanding change. Paper leaks are happening repeatedly. There is nothing undemocratic about peaceful protest, but what is happening with students and in Parliament is undemocratic," she said.
