New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) The Lok Sabha on Wednesday resumed discussion on the bill to amend the anti-paper leaks law, with Leader of the Opposition in the House Rahul Gandhi slated to participate in the debate shortly.
The discussion resumed at 12 pm amid opposition protests demanding Home Minister Amit Shah’s presence in the House.
Speaker Om Birla appealed to them to return to their seats and allow the proceedings to continue.
“I have given adequate time to everyone to speak. The House sat till 11 pm last night,” Birla said.
Opening the debate, JD(U) member Dileshwar Kamait praised the Centre for bringing the amendment bill, saying it would serve as a “Sudarshan Chakra” against those involved in paper leaks.
Independent MP Pappu Yadav, who is aligned with the Congress, said several students have died by suicide while lakhs slipped into depression after scoring poorly in the NEET retest, alleging that the question paper had undergone a qualitative change.
Earlier, the House witnessed repeated disruptions soon after it assembled at 11 am as opposition members pressed for Shah’s response on the police action against student protesters.
Birla urged the members to allow the Question Hour to function, but with the opposition refusing to relent, he adjourned the proceedings till 12 pm.
The government introduced the amendment bill on Monday, days after nationwide student protests over the NEET controversy culminated in the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act to provide for stricter punishment of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh for those involved in paper leaks.
The opposition has been raising the NEET paper leak issue since the Monsoon session began on July 20, disrupting proceedings and limiting legislative business largely to the introduction of two bills. PTI SBR SKY SKY
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