Resurgent Opposition to push government for answers as 18th Lok Sabha first session begins today

On the eve of the session, which will have eight sittings and will conclude on July 3, the main opposition Congress signalled that mere shuffling of bureaucrats was not a solution and the buck stops at the doorstep of the top echelons of the government.

And it was not just the NEET-NET issue. The Opposition is also upset over the Government’s decision to appoint seven-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro tem Speaker, overlooking the claim of eight-term Lok Sabha MP from the Congress Kodikunnil Suresh.

Accusing the Government of flouting conventions in appointment of the pro tem speaker, the Congress has also alleged that Suresh was overlooked by the BJP dispensation as he belongs to the Dalit community.

The Opposition INDIA bloc is now likely to reject the role given to Suresh and two other Opposition MPs to assist Mahtab in administering the oath to the new members.

The relocation of statues of leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, within the Parliament building complex too has riled up the Opposition.

The first two days of the session will see the newly elected members taking the oath. On Wednesday, the election of the new Speaker will take place. While most of the INDIA bloc parties are not in favour of fielding a joint Opposition candidate for the post of Speaker, some Congress leaders argue that Suresh should be fielded to make a political point. There has, however, not been any discussion on this within the bloc.

President Droupadi Murmu will address both Houses of Parliament together on June 27, outlining the Government’s vision. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will then hold separate discussions on the President’s address over the remaining part of the session, which ends on July 3.

The Opposition, sources said, is planning to raise several issues, including the recent train accident in Bengal, the implementation of the new criminal laws and the issue of sudden surge of share prices after the exit polls and their meltdown on election results day.

The Trinamool Congress Sunday added one more issue. The party slammed the Centre for not consulting the state before taking the decision to start negotiations with Bangladesh for the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Treaty. The party’s attack came a day after talks were held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on a range of issues, including the treaty.

TMC’s Parliamentary Party Leader in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien, said West Bengal is a party to the treaty, but was not consulted. “The state is a party to the treaty. Even our dues for the previous treaty have not been cleared. Dredging of the Ganga has been stopped. It is the primary reason for floods and erosion. This is a plan to sell off Bengal,” he said.

Most of the Opposition parties, especially those in power in states, have often accused the central government of dismantling federalism. The TMC’s charge hence would strike a chord with many of the Opposition parties.

The Congress is, however, keen to focus on the NEET-NET issue. Stepping up the attack on the Government Sunday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the NTA was projected to be an autonomous body, but in reality was made to serve the “devious interests” of the BJP and RSS.

“In the NEET scam, the buck stops at the doorstep of the top echelons of the Modi Government. Shuffling the bureaucrats is no solution to the endemic problem in the education system rotted by the BJP,” he said. For students to get justice, the Modi government must be held accountable, he said.

“Paper leaks, corruption, irregularities and the education mafia have infiltrated our education system,” he alleged. “This belated whitewashing exercise is of no consequence as countless youth continue to suffer.”

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Modi is “helpless” before the paper leak racket and “education mafia”.

“Now NEET PG has been postponed. This is another unfortunate example of the ruined education system under Narendra Modi’s rule. In BJP rule, students are not forced to study to save their careers, but are forced to fight with the government to save their future.Now it is clear, after silently watching the spectacle every time, Modi is helpless before the paper leak racket and education mafia,” he said in a post in Hindi on X.

“Narendra Modi’s incompetent government is the biggest threat to the future of students and we must save the future of the country from it,” he said.