Lok Sabha adjourned twice as Opposition demands minister's resignation over exam row
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Opposition parties disrupted the Lok Sabha twice, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
- Protests centered on alleged police mistreatment of students and examination irregularities.
- The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2 p.m. amid continued opposition protests and calls for accountability.
The Lok Sabha experienced significant disruptions on Wednesday, with the Opposition forcing two adjournments within the first hour of proceedings. The core of the protest was the demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, stemming from alleged police brutality against protesting students and widespread examination irregularities.
This is about the students and youth of India.
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were prominent voices in the Opposition's challenge. Yadav specifically condemned the alleged mistreatment of female students during recent police actions, questioning the government's response and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the matter. He stated that the protests, including a sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence, occurred because the issues were not being adequately addressed in Parliament.
Is this how we will treat our youth and our girls?
Speaker Om Birla attempted to restore order, appealing for constructive discussion after Question Hour and offering ample time for debate. However, persistent sloganeering and protests, with many Opposition members dressed in black as a mark of protest, led to the adjournments. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju indicated the government's readiness for a discussion, but the Opposition remained firm in its demands, warning of escalating street protests if their voices continued to be ignored in Parliament. The article also references recent large-scale protests, including a march to Parliament and a demonstration outside the Prime Minister's residence, highlighting the growing public discontent.
If he can speak on other issues, why not on this?
Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.