Live: CJP calls for nationwide protest on Friday; Delhi Police says no crackdown plan tonight

Kamal Haasan flays Centre over NEET issue, students protest

MNM founder and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan on Thursday flayed the BJP-led Centre on the NEET issue and ongoing students' protest, saying the "nation has failed" when its children are met with barricades and batons instead of answers.

Without directly naming the national test for medical aspirants, he alleged it was a rotten system where "anxiety replaces curiosity" and "criminality replaces merit." In a post on 'X,' Haasan said: "We should have listened when one child cried. Instead, we waited until far too many of our children died. A system where coaching replaces learning, anxiety replaces curiosity, and criminality replaces merit is rotten.

A nation has failed when its children are met with barricades and batons instead of answers. @Wangchuk66, the nation will need your conscience for the journey ahead. Please end your fast. To the children of India: You are the best of us. You have done your duty. It is now time for the country to do its duty by you. May your dreams forever be bigger than our failures."

Opposition trying to run away from NEET debate by attaching pre-conditions: Rijiju in LS

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused the Opposition of attaching pre-conditions and trying to run away from a debate on the NEET paper leak issue.

As the Opposition insisted on the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Rijiju told the Lok Sabha that during the discussion, the government would also like to put across its point of view on the paper leak issue.

He said Opposition members can speak for as long as they want and the discussion can take place even for two days.

Further, Rijiju said the date and duration of the discussion in both the Houses can be decided by the Opposition.

According to him, the government has approached the Congress and other Opposition parties on having the debate.

Rijiju made these remarks after the House reconvened at noon following an earlier adjournment.

Opposition can decide on date: Rijiju on NEET paper leak issue debate in Parliament

Opposition can decide on date, duration of discussion on NEET paper leak issue in both Houses, says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha.

LS, RS adjounred till 2 PM

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM as Oppositon continues to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Amit Shah lauds PM Modi over fast-track courts for NEET paper leaks case

Union Home Minister Amit Shah posts on X, "The welfare of the youth and their bright future is both the highest priority and the resolve of the Modi government. The decision to expedite hearings and take stringent action against the guilty in paper leak cases through the establishment of fast-track courts by the Prime Minister is a reflection of this very commitment. This important step by Prime Minister Modi against those who toy with the future of the youth due to paper leaks will prove to be a milestone."

Opposition, NDA MPs face off outside Parliament

Opposition and ruling party MPs staged counter protests and raised slogans against each other outside Parliament on Thursday, signalling another day of potential disruptions in both houses of Parliament on the NEET paper leak issue.

A large number of MPs belonging to both camps stood outside the Makar Dwar of Parliament and raised slogans against the other side.

While the ruling party MPs raised slogans against the Opposition for politicising the paper leak issue and raised slogans lilke "sharam karo, sharam karo" and "Vande Mataram", the opposition INDIA bloc MPs demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The opposition MPs also raised slogans like "Isteefa do", "gaddi chhodo" and "sharam karo" against the NDA.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress and other MPs also held a big banner seeking Pradhan's resignation.

Later Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav and other INDIA bloc leaders joined the protest outside Parliament.

Ahead of the session, Rahul Gandhi, Yadav and other INDIA bloc leaders held a strategy meeting on their protests.

While the Opposition camp continued to demand the resignation of Pradhan, NDA MPs demanded that the NEET issue be discussed Parliament and accused the opposition of running away from debate.

Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra reacts to CJP protest

"I hope we can all unite and work together to continually strengthen our education system, so that it remains a source of opportunity, innovation and hope for generations to come," says Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra amid CJP's protest in New Delhi.

Closure of metro stations: CJI says he will intervene if issue not resolved by lunch

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Thursday took note of the SCBA's plea that several metro stations have been closed making it difficult for lawyers and litigants to come to court and said he will intervene if the matter is not resolved by lunch time.

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh mentioned the closure of the Supreme Court Metro and other stations amid the ongoing student protests right in the morning. He urged the CJI-led bench that there should at least be restricted access for lawyers, litigants and court staff.

The CJI also said he had directed that no adverse orders in any case should be passed solely on account of the absence of lawyers affected by the prevailing situation.

The bar leader proposed that individuals holding valid Supreme Court entry passes, including Registry staff, be allowed to get off at the Supreme Court Metro station after undergoing security screening.

He said commuters exiting the station could be screened and only those carrying valid proximity cards or official Supreme Court identification be allowed to leave the station.

"In the metro, there is one advantage that when they come out of the train, there is an exit point. There they can be screened. People having proximity cards, and Registry staff, can be permitted to come out, and the rest can be told to take the other train and go," he said.

The CJI said the apex court administration had already been directed to engage with Delhi Metro authorities to explore the proposal.

"I informed them in the morning. It is up to them to talk to the authorities. He is exploring this also as one of the solutions. By lunchtime, if there is a solution, that is fine. Otherwise, if my intervention is required, I will do," the CJI said.

The developments come after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Thursday announced the closure of 16 Metro stations, including the Supreme Court Metro station, until further orders in view of the ongoing student protests.

PM's response insufficient, won't leave Jantar Mantar until Pradhan resigns: CJP

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on action against paper leaks did not address the issue of accountability and reiterated its demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Modi, in a post on X on Thursday morning, announced setting up of fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks, and said, "nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth".

Reacting to the prime minister's post on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared an image of Pradhan carrying the caption, "Hi, my name is nothing", while the CJP posted, "Dharmendra Pradhan Must Resign." CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka welcomed the prime minister's response but said it came after nearly one-and-a-half months of protests and did not answer the central question behind repeated paper leaks.

"The first thing is that it is good that after one-and-a-half months of protests, the prime minister has finally taken notice. Perhaps his foreign visits are over and he has returned to India, which is a good thing," Ranka said.

"But what punishment are you imposing after the paper leak has already taken place? That is not going to solve the problem of paper leaks. The real question is why paper leaks are happening in the first place. That question must be answered," he said.

"Applying ointment after an injury is one thing, but the real fight is about preventing the injury from happening in the first place. The injury keeps happening because the people running the system are neither accountable nor competent. Therefore, these measures are not sufficient by any means," he said.

PM residence protest: Cong MP submits privilege notice in LS; says rights of LoP, women MPs violated

Congress MP Hibi Eden on Thursday submitted a notice in the Lok Sabha for moving a privilege motion, alleging the "breach of parliamentary rights and immunities" of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and women MPs of the party during their protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence.

In his letter to the Lok Sabha secretary general, Eden said that despite the protest being peaceful, police brutally manhandled the protesting MPs, especially Rahul.

He said it is most unfortunate that the leader of opposition (LoP) of this country was dragged by police and forcibly taken to Chhatrasal Stadium.

"I hereby give notice for a privilege motion in relation to the breach of parliamentary rights and immunities of LoP Shri Rahul Gandhi and women MPs from the Congress Party," Eden said.

He said the MPs of the Congress were peacefully protesting on July 21 in solidarity with the students and youth of this country "against the brutal assaults on them the previous day".

"It is important to note that the students and youth of our country have been protesting since many days against the paper leaks and examination irregularities carried out under the aegis of the Central Government. The country, particularly the youth, is demanding the resignation of Shr. Dharmendra Pradhan, the current education minister of India," Eden said.