'Mic Off Sarkar': Congress Claims LoP Rahul Gandhi's Microphone Muted As He Raised NEET Paper Leak Row

The Congress claimed that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's microphone was turned off while he was addressing the NEET paper leak issue, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla refuted the charge.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha ( Image Source :PTI )

A heated exchange unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Friday as the Congress party alleged that the microphone of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was turned off while he was addressing the NEET paper leak issue. The Speaker refuted these claims. Gandhi urged for a discussion on the NEET irregularities, emphasising the need to send a message of unity to the youth of the country. The Congress took a swipe at the Modi government, terming it a "Mic off sarkar".

Switching off democracy pic.twitter.com/V3KIj75i7N

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 28, 2024

NEET का मुद्दा उठाया - माइक बंद कर दिया 🔇 pic.twitter.com/meEcoGa5sZ

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 28, 2024

In response to Rahul, Speaker Om Birla was heard saying, "I don't switch off the mic, there's no button with me." 

NEET पेपर लीक और परीक्षा में हुई धांधली से पूरे देश भर के छात्रों को अंधकार में धकेला जा रहा है, NEET छात्रों की आवाज कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष व राज्यसभा में नेता प्रतिपक्ष श्री @kharge जी और LOP श्री @RahulGandhi जी ने सदन में उठाई लेकिन उनका 'Mic off' कर दिया गया।

पेपर लीक पर मोदी… pic.twitter.com/FGv2UKU0oA

— NSUI (@nsui) June 28, 2024

“Today, the most important issue is the NEET exam irregularity. Thousands of students and their parents are in anxiety and we need to find a permanent solution to this. The government should allow us to dedicate and exclusively devote time to discussing these issues, hence we moved an adjournment motion but the govt is not ready. They are not allowing the Leader of the Opposition to even speak for one minute and the microphone was muted. The way this government is functioning is like the old times - dictatorship - and this will be a big problem for our entire democratic system,” stated Congress General Secretary and MP KC Venugopal.

Today, the most important issue is the NEET exam irregularity.

Thousands of students and their parents are in anxiety and we need to find a permanent solution to this.

The government should allow us to dedicate and exclusively devote time to discussing these issues, hence we… pic.twitter.com/ct2OU78e9S

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 28, 2024

Echoing these sentiments, MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “It is unfortunate that when Mr. @RahulGandhi requested that both the ruling party and the opposition come together to send a message to the youth that we are with them during this difficult time of NEET, the ruling party tried to suppress the voices of the children by turning off his microphone. We want a positive discussion on NEET, but when the government refused, we protested. This Parliament belongs to everyone, so the government should be accountable on the NEET issue.”

अफसोस की बात यह है कि जब श्री @RahulGandhi ने गुजारिश की कि सत्ता पक्ष और विपक्ष दोनों मिलकर युवाओं को संदेश दें कि NEET की इस मुश्किल घड़ी में हम उनके साथ हैं।

उसी समय सत्ता पक्ष ने उनका माइक बंद कर, बच्चों की आवाज को दबाने की कोशिश की।

हम NEET पर एक सकारात्मक चर्चा चाहते हैं,… pic.twitter.com/ARGPgWDOOx

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 28, 2024

MP Manickam Tagore added, “Today in the Lok Sabha, the Leader of Opposition Mr. @RahulGandhi wanted to express his views on the NEET issue. We wanted to send a message to millions of students that the government and the opposition are with them, but Rahul Gandhi's microphone was turned off. Just like it was done during the Adani issue in the 17th Lok Sabha, today, during the NEET issue, the microphone was turned off again.”

आज NEET के मुद्दे पर लोकसभा में नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi अपनी बात रखना चाहते थे।

हम लाखों छात्रों को संदेश देना चाहते थे कि सरकार और विपक्ष उनके साथ है, लेकिन राहुल गांधी जी का माइक बंद कर दिया गया।

जैसे 17वीं लोकसभा में अडानी के मुद्दे पर किया गया, वैसे ही आज NEET का… pic.twitter.com/ja8LghxrGE

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 28, 2024

Congress MP Deepender Hooda expressed his dismay, “What happened in the House today is very unfortunate. The Leader of Opposition Mr. @RahulGandhi raised a very important issue of the NEET paper leak in a very dignified manner. But his microphone was turned off in the House, which is not a good parliamentary practice. The Leader of Opposition has the full right to express his views. We demand that the government immediately discuss this issue.”

आज जो सदन में हुआ, वह बहुत ही दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है।

नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi ने सदन में पूरी शालीनता के साथ NEET पेपर लीक का एक अति महत्वपूर्ण विषय उठाया।

लेकिन सदन में उनके माइक को बंद कर दिया गया, जो कि अच्छी संसदीय परंपरा नहीं है। नेता विपक्ष को अपनी बात रखने का पूरा… pic.twitter.com/24i5C2LP36

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 28, 2024

Rahul Gandhi Urges Parliament Discussion On NEET Exam Row

Rahul Gandhi, addressing reporters in the Parliament complex, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a respectful discussion on the alleged NEET exam irregularities, highlighting that it concerns the youth and their future. "The NEET issue should be discussed before the Motion of Thanks on the President's address is taken up. The youth are worried and they do not know what is going to happen. A message and assurance should go to the youth from Parliament that India's government and the opposition are together in raising the concerns of students," he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Gandhi noted that during their meeting on Thursday, all opposition floor leaders unanimously agreed that there should be a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament. "I want to tell the students of the country that this is their issue and we all in the INDIA bloc feel that your issue is the most important as you are India's future," Gandhi said.

The NEET-UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, saw around 24 lakh candidates participating. Following the announcement of results on June 4, allegations of question paper leaks emerged from states like Bihar, along with other irregularities. The Education Ministry subsequently cancelled the UGC-NET and NEET-PG examinations due to concerns over the exams' integrity.

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till Monday, July 1, after disruptions over the NEET issue. Despite the Opposition's demands for a discussion, Speaker Om Birla refused to allow an adjournment motion during the discussion on the President's address. Proceedings in both Houses were adjourned for over half an hour initially and continued to be disrupted upon resumption, leading to further adjournment till Monday by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.