Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said Prime Minister Modi told MPs that the government took action immediately after reports of the paper leak surfaced.
Following a protest led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of irregularities in the competition, a political storm has erupted in the national capital, with the opposition leveling a series of allegations against the Centre.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that action has been taken against those involved in the NEET paper leak so that no one plays with the future of the youth.
The Prime Minister made the remarks at a meeting of NDA MPs, a day after CJP-led protesters participated in the ‘Sansad Chalo’ rally. Follow live updates of the CJP protest here.
Center on CJP protest
Briefing the media after the NDA meeting, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Prime Minister told MPs that the government took action immediately after reports of the paper leak surfaced, following which 13 people were arrested.
Meanwhile, speaking about the BJP protest, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said: “All the parliamentarians were inside Parliament. We were all afraid, and thought the mob might attack us. I appreciate the Delhi Police for playing the role of a shield, and not letting people get hurt.”
Union Minister and PJD President Chirag Paswan said, “Dialogue is a good way.”
“I respect the sentiments of the students. It is clear that there was anger and concern over various issues over which students had to take to the roads. At the same time, I am not in favor of suppressing students’ voices. Dialogue is a good way. The way their delegation met JP Nadda ji yesterday, the government has always kept its door open for dialogue,” he said.
BJP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal said, “Our leader JP Nadda invited them and listened to them. They were assured that the government will look into the demands made by them. So, I think when the talks are going in the right direction, the atmosphere should not be spoiled. This is neither in the interest of the country nor in the interest of any party.”
Bharatiya Janata Party MP K. Sudhakar: “…There is little substance to it, it is mostly fabrication. They are trying to distort democracy, which will never happen. The opposition may have plans to do what happened in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. But it will never happen in India. It is the most democratic country… I do not object to the presence of students, but there were outsiders there too.”
He continued, “Who sponsored them? What was their intention? What was their relationship? There were anti-social elements too; how did they get there? Who is behind all this? Everything will come to light. The entire country will know the truth.”
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The opposition over the Justice and Development Party’s protest
Congress president and Leader of the Opposition Rajya Sabha (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge said that though they sought time to address the matter in Parliament, his microphone was turned off.
“We sought time to raise the issue of injustice, oppression and pressure in Parliament. But as soon as I said a word, the microphone was switched off. Is this a democracy? If you don’t want to debate in a democracy, if you don’t want to hear us, where will we go?” The senior Congress leader said.
On the other hand, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said: “What happened yesterday reflects the consistent behavior of this government… The protesters have been there for weeks and the government should have handled them properly. It is complete mismanagement.”
Regarding the police action during the CJP protest, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: “I think it is absolutely disgusting. This is impossible. These are young people. They have a real problem. And we all know what this problem is… They want a bright future for themselves.”
Moreover, after meeting those injured during the CJP protests on July 20, AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said: “I have received messages on social media that many people believe that the police have arrested their children and sent them to jail, and that false FIRs have been registered against several students.”
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These remarks came a day after Union Minister Nadda met RJD’s national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka and its chief spokesperson Sourav Das at his residence.
