Kiren Rijiju says government ready for NEET debate, accuses Opposition of 'running away'

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday accused the Congress of 'running away' from a debate on the NEET paper leak and the subsequent students' protests, calling it "unthinkable and incomprehensible" that the Opposition would shun a discussion when the government has said it is ready to respond.

His remarks came shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla offering to answer all questions on the issue in the House.

Also read: Shah ready to give detailed reply on students’ protests, says Rijiju


"I am totally frustrated and I am seeing for the first time where the government is ready for discussion, the Opposition is 'running away'," Rijiju said.

In his letter to the Speaker, Shah pointed out that the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 had already been discussed during the ongoing session, and no Opposition member had raised the NEET issue in the House at that time. He added that the government was nevertheless ready to discuss the issue again, and noted that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had already agreed during a Business Advisory Committee meeting to hold a discussion on the matter.

Shah requested the Speaker to consult the Opposition and, through mutual consensus, allocate as many hours as deemed appropriate for the discussion, starting the same day, and said he intended to remain present in the House to answer all questions raised by the Opposition.

Speaking to reporters separately, Shah reportedly challenged the Opposition to submit a formal letter to the Speaker by 2 pm so a debate could begin at 3 pm, and proposed a 24-hour discussion window during which he would personally stay back to respond to every query raised. He also offered to suspend Question Hour on Thursday if the Speaker permitted, saying he was ready to sit through the discussion until 3 pm the following day.

Rijiju reiterated the government's position, saying it had "nothing to hide." "I am saying even today, agree to it. Even if the Congress agrees to the debate tomorrow at 11 am, we will increase the time. We are ready for the discussion," he said.

Also read: Amit Shah says ready for NEET debate from 3 pm, puts ball in Opposition’s court

"The government is ready, but can you imagine that the Opposition is not ready? It is not good for democracy. It is the responsibility of the government and the Opposition," Rijiju added, stating that the government had prepared its replies and was waiting for the Opposition to agree to a time.

The remarks come amid a continuing standoff in Parliament. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been seeking a direct response from Shah over alleged police excesses, including the use of pellet guns, against students during a July 20 protest march near Jantar Mantar, indicated the party was not interested in Shah using the debate as an opportunity to lecture the House rather than address the police action directly.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also questioned whether Shah had been present in the House to face the Opposition's questions.

Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs held a demonstration outside Parliament, raising slogans of "Amit Shah Jawab Do" (Amit Shah, provide an answer), protesting the alleged use of excessive police force against student demonstrators in the national capital.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till Thursday, August 13, the last day of the Monsoon Session, with disruptions continuing over the issue even as the government repeated its offer for an "immediate discussion."

With inputs from PTI