#WATCH | Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, "Whatever else the opposition has to say, they can present their views during the discussion. If there is a discussion, every member has the right to express whatever they wish... But if you impose conditions to… https://t.co/C8CtECRQD5 pic.twitter.com/lvAOIuaGds

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Wednesday termed the Congress-led protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in Delhi as "irresponsible" and alleged that it amounted to an attempt to compromise security.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged a sit-in at one of the gates of 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Tuesday. Rahul and Priyanka along with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, were forcibly removed by the police while demanding Modi's resignation.

Addressing reporters here, Maurya said that despite the Centre agreeing to hold a discussion on the issue raised by the opposition after Union Minister Jitendra Singh met its leaders, they continued with the protest.

"The protest outside the prime minister's residence was irresponsible. It was an attempt to endanger the PM's security. Even after a senior Union minister met them and agreed to a discussion, they remained on dharna. It was an attempt to make a mockery of the entire system," he said.

(PTI)

Dressed in black in solidarity with protesting students, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said "democracy is finished" and what is happening in Parliament is "undemocratic" with debate not being allowed on students' issues.

Referring to the Congress' protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence on Tuesday, Priyanka Gandhi said the biggest thing in democracy is freedom of expression and right to peaceful protest.

"There is nothing undemocratic about that. What is undemocratic is what is happening in Parliament and on the streets," she said.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and several other opposition MPs, dressed in black, staged a protest outside Parliament on Wednesday against the alleged police brutality on protesting students.

"In Parliament, debate is not being allowed. The Leader of Opposition is not allowed to speak, and neither are other opposition leaders. Whenever they rise to speak, they are stopped," Priyanka Gandhi told reporters in the Parliament House complex.

"The Speaker says he has to ask the government whether a debate can take place. What is this? Democracy is finished," the Congress general secretary said.

(PTI)

#MonsoonSession2026 #parliamentSession #LokSabha #ParliamentOfIndia #18thloksabhasession pic.twitter.com/drYPDmuer9

— LOK SABHA (@LokSabhaSectt) July 22, 2026

#BREAKING | Government ready to debate next week: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on NEET paper leak debate in Parliament pic.twitter.com/BlCNdp2r1t

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 22, 2026

#WATCH | In Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, "For three days we have been offering that the Government is absolutely ready to have a discussion on NEET paper leak issue. Since day 1 we have been saying that discussions have to be held as per rules.… pic.twitter.com/6S3zNufU9y

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026

Even as the Opposition MPs protested and raised slogans against the government outside Parliament on Wednesday, a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office has raised political eyebrows.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and his daughter and MP Surpiya Sule met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office on Wednesday.

In pictures from the meeting the veteran Maratha leader and the prime minister were seen sharing a hearty laugh while exchanging some notes.

#WATCH | Delhi | Congress MP Deepender Hooda says, "Until Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and discussion on the education system happen, our demonstration will continue." pic.twitter.com/BLeEa0rLFd

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026

Reaffirming his party's long-standing opposition to NEET, senior DMK leader T K S Elangovan on Wednesday called for the immediate abolition of the centralised medical entrance exam, accusing the ruling BJP at the Centre of sustaining a system that "favours" commercial coaching centers and paper leak cartels over meritorious students.

Speaking on the party's primary political mandate, Elangovan emphasised that scrapping NEET has remained a core promise in DMK's election manifestos, backed consistently by voters across Tamil Nadu.

He told PTI video that the current admission framework penalises bright students from underprivileged backgrounds who lack the financial means for private test preparation, citing the tragic death of Ariyalur student Anitha as a turning point in the state's struggle against the exam.

"Why NEET when students can get good marks in their school final examination? Those students who have got very good marks could not get admission in medical colleges because they could not afford money for coaching," Elangovan said.

(PTI)

#MonsoonSession2026 #parliamentSession #LokSabha #ParliamentOfIndia #18thloksabhasession pic.twitter.com/cm7ifQ1XQG

— LOK SABHA (@LokSabhaSectt) July 22, 2026

#WATCH | Delhi: Wearing black clothes, Opposition MPs protest on the Parliament premises.
Earlier this morning, Congress MP Pawan Khera told ANI that all Opposition MPs are wearing black today as a mark of "protest against what they have done to the students of this country in… pic.twitter.com/TeSJhhoBjs

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026

#WATCH | Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "What happened with us is irrelevant. You (the media) tell me if what happened with students is right or wrong? Students have genuine demands and are asking for their rights. The Education budget is Rs 1.4 lakh crores, but you are… pic.twitter.com/anOJg05JJH

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026

#WATCH | Delhi | Dressed in black clothes protesting over police action on Congress leaders yesterday, party MP K Suresh says, "Today, we all are dressed in this (black clothes) as we are having a demonstration in front of Makar Dwar today over what police brutally did to the LoP… pic.twitter.com/wnJVbztopr

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026

Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, arrived in black clothes at Parliament on Wednesday to stage a protest against the government.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has given a Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 seeking a discussion on the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak, failures in the public examination system, police action against protesters and the deteriorating health of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

In his notice to the Secretary-General of Rajya Sabha, Sanjay Singh sought suspension of all business of the House under Rule 267 to discuss the issues.

"I hereby give notice of my intention to move the following motion: Subject: To suspend all business of the House under Rule 267 to discuss the NEET-UG question paper leak, the failure of the public examination system, police action against peaceful protesters, and the deteriorating health of Shri Sonam Wangchuk," the notice said.

(ANI)

The Lok Sabha is set to take up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, for consideration and passage on Wednesday, with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal scheduled to move the legislation in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 20 amid continued Opposition sloganeering during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

As per the Lok Sabha List of Business for today, Meghwal will move that the Bill further to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, be taken into consideration and also move that the Bill be passed.

(ANI)

The opposition MPs will hold a protest outside Makar Dwar of Parliament on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protests have been tentatively scheduled for 10:30 am, during which opposition legislators will also raise concerns over the irregularities in the NEET UG examination. They will also hold a protest against the police action taken on July 20 on students.

Congress MP Hibi Eiden on Wednesday gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha for discussion over police action against students protesting near Parliament.

The MP from Ernakulam said the House cannot remain a "silent spectator to the disturbing reports of thousands of students being subjected to lathicharge and tear gas while peacefully protesting against what they describe as deficiencies in the country's education and examination system."

(ANI)

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asserted on Tuesday that the government is committed to discussing issues related to the NEET and addressing every genuine concern of youngsters on the floor of Parliament.

Pradhan also slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for staging a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence and accused him of exploiting students as "political tools" to "manufacture" disruption during the Monsoon session of Parliament.

LoP Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia chose to stage a dharna outside the Hon'ble Prime Minister's residence , causing…

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 21, 2026

The government on Tuesday said it is ready to discuss all issues relating to the NEET exam and the movement associated with it in Parliament, after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi sat on a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence.

In a strongly worded statement, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, who along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan met Gandhi and urged him to end his sit-in, alleged that the LoP "backtracked" from his earlier demand for a debate and said it does not befit a leader of his stature.

Singh said Rahul Gandhi did not agree to his request and instead demanded that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must also resign.

The minister also said that the Congress "has not given any notice to date for a formal discussion on this serious matter (NEET issue) as per rules".

"For a senior leader like Shri Rahul Gandhi and the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) to go back on his word is unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy," the minister said.

"The government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement... Shri Rahul Gandhi's behaviour does not align with the principles of democracy," Singh said.

(PTI)