Untidy scenes over NEET

DIN IN HOUSE | Adjournments, uproar over Dhankhar’s no to NEET discussion as Kharge steps into well, Phulo Devi faints

- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

The Rajya Sabha witnessed acrimonious scenes on Friday as members of the Opposition, including Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kha r ge, raised slogans and trooped into the well of the Upper House to protest against the refusal by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to allow a discussion on the irregularities in the conduct of NEET and other exams conducted by the National Testing Agency. During the protest, Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam fainted and was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

The issue also saw an exchange of words between Dhankhar and Kharge over the latter entering the well. While Kharge claimed he had stepped out to seek the chair’s attention, Dhankhar termed it as “untrue” and accused him of sacrilege.

Kharge, however, defended his actions saying he entered the well to draw the chair’s attention. “I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking... I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party ... he deliberately ignored me to insult me ... So I will definitely say it is chairman sahab’s mistake.”