'Congress, Its Allies Put Dignity Of Parliament At Stake': Kiren Rijiju Slams Opposition For Disrupting Lok Sabha

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today criticised the Congress for disrupting Lok Sabha proceedings, preventing the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju speaks in the Lok Sabha during ongoing Parliament session.

Source : PTI Images

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday slammed the Congress for disrupting Lok Sabha proceedings, preventing the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. He accused the Congress of disregarding parliamentary conventions. His comments followed the adjournment of the Lok Sabha amid opposition protests demanding a dedicated discussion on the NEET issue before the Motion of Thanks debate. 

"The government is ready for discussion on any issue, but the attitude of the Congress to stall parliamentary proceedings is not good. I condemn how the Congress is flouting parliamentary traditions and conventions," Rijiju stated.

He emphasised that, according to parliamentary conventions, the debate on the  Motion of Thanks should take precedence over other discussions.

"Congress raised an issue that was against the dignity of the House. Their leader said there should be no discussion on the Motion of Thanks and other issues should be discussed first," Rijiju said.

"The government is ready for discussion, but it has to be as per the rules. The debate on the Motion of Thanks will go on for three days. Members can put their views in detail during the debate," he added.

He further remarked, "In the history of Parliament, there has never been a tradition of discussing any other topic than the motion of thanks after the President's address". 

The Lok Sabha Speaker had advised opposition members to raise the NEET issue during the Motion of Thanks debate, assuring that the government would address it. 

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG, conducted by the NTA on May 5, saw around 24 lakh candidates participating. The results, announced on June 4, were marred by allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar and other irregularities. 

President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. 

The Lok Sabha has allotted 16 hours for the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to respond to the debate on Tuesday.