Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju made a stern statement that any member attempting to mislead the House would face stringent consequences under parliamentary rules. This declaration came in response to a notice submitted by BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging inaccuracies in his speech during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.
Rijiju emphasised the seriousness of the matter, stating, “We have requested the Speaker to take appropriate action against Rahul Gandhi.” He stressed that no individual, regardless of social or political standing, would be above the law. “Nobody can expect to escape. There is no special privilege for anyone just because he comes from a privileged family,” he asserted, referring to Gandhi’s lineage.
The BJP’s notice, submitted by Bansuri Swaraj, urged the Speaker to address what the party claims are factual inaccuracies in Gandhi’s recent speech. Rijiju elaborated on the issue, saying, “When the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha kept on lying on many things, including facts and figures, a notice was put to the Speaker and we have requested the Speaker to take appropriate action. We are waiting for the action,” he said, responding to media questions.
Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of making “untruthful” claims about several key issues, including the Agnipath scheme and compensation paid to locals in Ayodhya. Rijiju reiterated that parliamentary rules apply equally to all members and that any attempt to misuse one’s position to mislead the House would be met with severe consequences. “If anybody wants to misuse the position in the House to mislead the House, he will not easily get away. Rules will get them,” he warned.
Under Direction 115 of the Speaker, members have the right to point out inaccuracies in statements made by ministers or other members by writing to the Speaker and providing supporting evidence. The Speaker can then decide whether to bring the matter to the attention of the concerned minister or member to ascertain the factual position.
In addition to the parliamentary issues, Rijiju also addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak. Speaking at a press conference, he claimed that strict action would be taken against those responsible for compromising students’ futures. “We will take the strictest action against those who play with the future of students,” he said, referencing the recently enacted Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
“Today, the Prime Minister has written very clearly that strict steps have been taken and will be taken further too. We will take the strictest action against those who play with the future of students and if this happens, we will take more strict steps for that too, the Prime Minister has given assurance and steps are already being taken, in which a law has also been passed. Now under this law, action will be taken further too,” Rijiju said, addressing a press conference on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the issue, assuring the youth that the government would not spare those involved in the NEET paper leak. “I assure the youth of the country that this government is not going to spare those who cheated them. One action after the other is being taken to ensure that those who toyed with the future of the youth of my country get the strictest punishment,” Modi stated in his address to the Rajya Sabha.
In response, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a criminal case over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams and formed special teams to investigate the matter. Prime Minister Modi urged all parties to address the issue beyond politics, highlighting its importance for the future of the youth.
Kiren Rijiju further criticised the Congress party for their conduct during parliamentary proceedings, particularly during Prime Minister Modi’s speech. “These people (opposition) keep abusing Modi from morning to evening and night and then they say that there is no freedom of speech,” Rijiju remarked. He slammed the Congress for disrupting the Prime Minister’s speech in Lok Sabha, calling it a deviation from democratic traditions. “When the Prime Minister of the country and the leader of the House present their views, everyone has to listen whether it is the ruling party or the Opposition. In a democracy, everyone has the right to speak and also the right to listen,” he emphasised.
