Rahul Gandhi raises NEET issue in Lok Sabha, Congress claims his mic was turned off

The Lok Sabha proceedings began contentiously on Friday, as the Opposition raised uproar over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) issue. The session saw notable incidents, including Rahul Gandhi's claim that his microphone was turned off, prompting a quick response from the Speaker. A video of the exchange was shared by Congress on social media, further fueling the debate.

Rahul Gandhi's Demand for NEET Discussion

When the House reconvened at noon, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for an immediate discussion on the NEET issue, emphasizing the need to show solidarity with students. Speaker Om Birla responded by advising adherence to house norms and suggested scheduling the discussion during the President's address.

Opposition's Persistent Demands

Rahul Gandhi, supported by the Opposition, insisted on addressing the NEET controversy immediately. He stated, “We wanted to give a joint message to the students of India, on behalf of the Opposition as well as the government that we consider this an important issue. So, we thought that to respect students, we should have a NEET discussion today, a dedicated discussion.” Rahul was heard saying repeatedly to give him mic.

Speaker's Response and Congress's Allegations

In response to the microphone incident, Speaker Om Birla clarified, “I don’t have any button to switch off the microphone. There existed a similar set-up earlier also. There is no mechanism to gag the microphone.” Congress, however, shared a video on their X handle, alleging a conspiracy to silence the Opposition and students. They claimed, “While Narendra Modi remains silent on NEET, Rahul Gandhi is championing the cause of the youth in the House. However, on such a serious issue, a conspiracy is being done to suppress the voice of youth by switching off microphones in Parliament.”

NEET 2024 Examinations and Controversies

The NEET (UG) 2024 exams were conducted on May 5 across 570 cities, including 14 international locations. Over 23 lakh students participated, but the exams were overshadowed by a paper leak controversy, jeopardizing the futures of many students. Despite initial denials from the Union Ministry of Education, a high-level committee was eventually formed to investigate and suggest reforms.

Neet CBI Investigation

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a criminal case on June 23 regarding alleged lapses in the conduct of NEET (UG) and UGC-NET exams by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This development added to the growing political and public scrutiny surrounding the examination process.