Rajya Sabha washout continues for 5th day; adjourned till Monday amid NEET paper leak row

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha on Friday failed to transact any significant business, except for the introduction of a bill to make insult to the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence, as the first week of the Monsoon Session was virtually a washout amid uproar by the opposition over the NEET paper leak issue and demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

The House was adjourned within minutes of assembly till 12 noon after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to raise the issue of lathicharge on students who are protesting against the paper leak and pressing for the resignation of Pradhan.

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The proceedings were further adjourned till 2 pm as the Opposition protest continued. Opposition members are also pressing for the resignation of the Education Ministry before discussion on the issues around paper leaks and students' protest.

At 2 pm, Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai to introduce 'The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026', a decision vociferously opposed by the opposition, including Left parties.

The Chair permitted John Brittas (CPI-M) and Sandosh Kumar P (CPI) to express their opposition to the proposed legislation.

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However, the proposed legislation was introduced after a voice vote.

As the Chairman urged the House to start discussion on the bill, the Opposition created an uproar, leading to adjournment of the proceedings.

The Upper House will meet next on Monday.

The Rajya Sabha could not conduct any major business during the first five days of the Monsoon Session, which started on Monday, due to repeated adjournments after Opposition protests and sloganeering.