New Dehli - In a dramatic turn of events that has been dubbed a "tainted day" in Indian parliamentary history, the Rajya Sabha witnessed an unprecedented face-off between the Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The confrontation, which unfolded on Friday, centered around the opposition's persistent demand for a discussion on the recent paper leaks in various competitive exams, including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG).
The incident, which has sent shockwaves through political circles, began when Kharge, who is also the Congress president, walked into the well of the House along with other opposition members. This rare move by a Leader of the Opposition was intended to press for a debate on the paper leaks that have affected millions of students across the country. However, the action prompted a sharp rebuke from Chairman Dhankhar, leading to a heated exchange that has since dominated political discourse.
Dhankhar's Shock and Disappointment
Visibly agitated by Kharge's actions, Chairman Dhankhar expressed his dismay in no uncertain terms. "Today has become such a tainted day in the history of the Indian Parliament that the Leader of the Opposition has come to the well of the House," Dhankhar declared, speaking in Hindi. "This has never happened before. I am pained, I am shocked. The Indian parliamentary tradition will deteriorate to such an extent that the Leader of the Opposition will come to the well, the Deputy Leader will come to the well."
The Vice President's strong words underscored the gravity with which he viewed the situation. Clearly viewing Kharge's actions as a breach of parliamentary decorum, Dhankhar chose to adjourn the Rajya Sabha till 2 pm, effectively halting proceedings for the day.
Kharge's Defense and Counterattack
For his part, Kharge was quick to defend his actions, placing the blame squarely on Dhankhar's shoulders. In a statement to the press following the incident, the Congress President claimed that he had been left with no choice but to enter the well of the House, as Dhankhar had been deliberately ignoring him.
"This is actually the Chairman's fault," Kharge asserted. "I observed parliamentary rules and raised my hand for 10 minutes, but he did not look at me. That's when I had to go in to attract his attention, but he still did not look at me. When all the members came (into the well), I walked out, I did not even stay there."
Kharge went on to accuse Dhankhar of showing favoritism towards the treasury benches, stating, "I tried to attract his attention, but he was only looking towards the treasury benches. When I raised my hand, he should have looked at me according to the rules, but he did what he did to ignore and insult me."
The Congress leader emphasized that his actions were motivated by the urgency of the issue at hand. "There has been such a big scam in the NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, lakhs of students are worried. We were only demanding a specific discussion and trying to raise the issues of the students," he explained.
Later, in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kharge escalated his criticism, accusing the Vice President of exhibiting "step-motherly behavior" towards the opposition.
Historical Precedent and Political Maneuvering
The controversy took another turn when senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh challenged Dhankhar's assertion that this was the first time a Leader of the Opposition had entered the well of the House. In a pointed social media post, Ramesh recalled a similar incident from August 5, 2019, involving former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
"Memories are short, especially when old rivals become new partners," Ramesh wrote, taking a thinly veiled swipe at the BJP's perceived closeness to Azad, who left the Congress in 2022. "On Aug 5 2019, the-then Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad sat on the steps leading to the Chairman's presiding seat - which is very much part of the Well. This was when the Bills to abolish Article 370 and downgrade the status of J&K from a full-fledged state to a UT were being introduced. I should know - I sat next to him."
Ramesh's recollection not only challenged the uniqueness of Friday's events but also highlighted the complex web of political alliances and rivalries that often underpin parliamentary proceedings.
The Lok Sabha Situation
While the Rajya Sabha grappled with the Kharge-Dhankhar face-off, the Lok Sabha was not without its own share of drama. Despite indications from the government that it was prepared to discuss the paper leaks in various exams, including NEET and UGC-NET, the lower house was adjourned for the day. Initially adjourned until noon, it was later postponed until Monday, further frustrating opposition attempts to debate the issue.
Rahul Gandhi's Intervention
Rahul Gandhi, now the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, seized the opportunity to criticize the government's handling of the situation. In a video message directed at students affected by the NEET paper leak and those preparing for other competitive exams, Gandhi did not mince words.
"There's been a disaster as far as NEET is concerned," he stated. "Everybody knows that the paper was leaked, people made thousands of crores of rupees and the students were hurt and damaged. The students studied for years; it is their dream, their aspiration to enter the medical field and this has been destroyed and ridiculed."
Gandhi revealed that the issue had been discussed at an opposition meeting the previous day, where it was unanimously decided that a one-day discussion on NEET was necessary. He emphasized the opposition's commitment to conducting this discussion peacefully and accommodatingly.
"I tried to raise it in Parliament. As you saw, I wasn't allowed to speak," Gandhi continued, highlighting the frustration felt by many opposition members. "This is an issue that has affected 2 crore students, papers have been leaked 70 times in seven years. It is clear that there is a systemic problem and that there is a huge amount of corruption."
The Congress leader stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that "Crores and crores of people and their family members are in pain, they don't know what is going to happen in the future, and they want clarity."
In a direct challenge to the government, Gandhi claimed that the Prime Minister did not want a debate on the issue. However, he was quick to add that the opposition's intent was not confrontational. "The opposition is not looking for a fight with the government, but wants to put its views on the table," he clarified.
Government's Stance
Amid the opposition's clamor for a discussion, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought to assure the public that the government was not shying away from the issue. "The government was ready for a discussion and has already stated it will take strict action against anyone who is found guilty," Pradhan stated.
The minister pointed to President Droupadi Murmu's recent speech, which had touched upon the exam issue, as evidence of the government's seriousness. "The President spoke about the exam in her speech yesterday and it shows the government's intention that we are ready to face any issue," he said.
Pradhan also promised decisive action against those responsible for the paper leaks. "When the government is ready to put forth its side then what is the confusion? We are going to take the strictest action and the CBI is going to nab everyone (involved). We will not spare anyone," he asserted.
The Broader Impact
The controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak and the subsequent parliamentary drama have cast a long shadow over India's education system and political landscape. With millions of students affected and the integrity of crucial competitive exams called into question, the issue has touched a raw nerve among the public.
The incident has also highlighted the growing tensions between the government and opposition, raising concerns about the effectiveness of parliamentary proceedings in addressing critical national issues. As both sides dig in their heels, with the opposition demanding immediate discussion and the government promising action while resisting debate, the path forward remains unclear.
What is certain, however, is that the events of this "tainted day" will likely have far-reaching consequences. They not only affect the immediate future of countless students but also raise important questions about transparency, accountability, and the very nature of democratic discourse in India's highest legislative bodies.
As the dust settles on this dramatic episode, all eyes will be on the government's next moves. Will it accede to the opposition's demands for a thorough discussion, or will it proceed with its own course of action? The answer to this question could well determine the tone of parliamentary proceedings in the coming days and weeks, with potentially significant implications for both governance and opposition politics in India.
