The Congress party has rejected the government’s proposal to hold a debate on the NEET paper leak issue unless Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said his party is ready to discuss the matter under Rule 267, but only after Pradhan steps down. “A fair discussion on this issue will only be possible when Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns,” Kharge asserted in the House.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha that the government was willing to hold a discussion on the NEET paper leak. He urged Speaker Om Birla to convene a meeting of all parties to decide the rule, date, and duration of the debate. However, Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, intervened to reiterate the demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
Later in the day, Pradhan reportedly met Birla after the BJP‑led government agreed to a discussion on the NEET issue, though the opposition maintained its stance.
The controversy stems from the cancellation of the NEET‑UG 2026 exam by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 12, following an internal probe that indicated a reported paper leak. The cancellation affected over 20 lakh candidates, with a re‑examination conducted on June 21, 2026.
