Bhubaneswar: The Rajya Sabha members of Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a strong protest in the House against corruption in the NEET examination on Friday.
Sasmit Patra, senior leader of the party and Rajya Sabha member, in a post in X (formerly Twitter), said all the MPs of BJD protested the corruption and irregularities in NEET examination, which has affected the lives of millions of students in the country, and demanded a discussion on the issue.
“They staged the protest on the issue by standing up in their respective places and then moving to the front of the House and further demanding discussion on it in the House. When their protest was not heeded, the BJD MPs also went to the well of the House registering their strong protest,” said Patra in the post.
He further said the MPs of his party protested against the BJP-led government in the Parliament and went to the well of the House twice, voicing concerns of the students and parents of Odisha who have been affected by irregularities and corruption in the examination.
Opposition Stages Walkout
In another post, Patra said one of the MPs, Phulo Devi Netam, fainted in the well of the House during the protest. It led the MPs to demand adjournment of House.
As the Rajya Sabha chairman did not heed their demand for adjournment despite illness of Netam, the entire Opposition walked out in protest from the House.
It may be noted that the BJD could not win a single Lok Sabha seat from Odisha in the recently concluded general elections. During a meeting with Rajya Sabha members after the elections, BJD president and former chief minister had told them to raise their voices strongly against the plans and policies of the BJP led government at the Centre.