The Samajwadi Party leader accused the Chair of favoring major party blocks while ignoring regional Opposition voices on student welfare issues.
NEW DELHI — Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a sharp attack against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday, alleging that smaller Opposition parties were systematically denied an opportunity to air their views on the nationwide NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
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Intervening amid repeated disruptions and adjournments during the third day of the Monsoon Session, Yadav expressed deep frustration over what he characterized as unequal treatment on the floor of the House.
1. Allegations of Partiality and Floor Time Allocation
The SP leader questioned why floor time was granted to Treasury bench representatives and Congress floor leaders while requests from other Opposition parties were overlooked.
“This is not an issue concerning the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, or the BJP. This is an issue concerning the youth and students… You allowed them to speak. You called them. Have you reached some kind of understanding with them? Why didn’t you allow us to speak? We requested just one minute. Why was that denied?”
— Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party Chief & MP (in Lok Sabha)
Yadav emphasized that examination integrity is a national concern affecting millions of aspirants rather than a bipartisan political dispute between major national parties.
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📌 Key Arguments Raised by Akhilesh Yadav:
🏛️ Parliamentary Access ➔ Demands equal time for all Opposition groups, not just major party blocks.
🚨 Student Police Action➔ Condemned alleged police force against student protesters during the June 20 march.
🏢 Defense of Protests ➔ Stated street demonstrations at the PM's residence were forced by parliamentary silences.
🎤 Call for PM Statement ➔ Demands Prime Minister Narendra Modi address Parliament directly on exam security.
2. Street Demonstrations and Demand for PM Statement
Yadav’s fiery floor intervention follows his participation in a joint Opposition protest near the Prime Minister’s residence alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other coalition MPs, where several leaders were briefly detained by police.
Defending the decision to take protests to the streets, the SP chief argued that Opposition leaders were compelled to demonstrate outside because their voices were being constricted within Parliament. He further criticized heavy-handed police action against student demonstrators during earlier protest marches in the capital.
| Key Issue Raised | Akhilesh Yadav’s Position | Government / Parliamentary Context |
| Speaking Time Allocation | Demands equal opportunity for all parliamentary groups. | Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju offered a structured debate. |
| Ministerial Resignation | Termed it secondary to addressing systemic student grievances. | Opposition leaders (Congress) insist on Dharmendra Pradhan’s exit. |
| Prime Minister’s Role | Urged PM Modi to make a formal statement inside the House. | Government maintains line ministers are designated to handle debate. |
Sequence of Events: From Street Protest to Floor Clash
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