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New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday rejected the government’s demand for discussion on NEET unless Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Kharge stated his party wants to have a discussion of the NEET examination in the House under Rule 267. He further added that the discussion is possible only after Pradhan’s resignation.

“We wish to discuss the NEET examination in the House under Rule 267. A fair discussion on this issue will only be possible when Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns,” the Leader of Opposition said in the Rajya Sabha.

Earlier in the day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha that the government is willing to hold a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue and urged Speaker Om Birla to convene a meeting of all parties to decide on the rule, date, and duration of the debate.

As soon as the House reassembled at noon after an earlier adjournment, Birla asked Rijiju to make a statement, but Congress leader KC Venugopal intervened to assert that the opposition is also seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Rijju said the government is willing to hold a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue, but the Speaker will have to meet floor leaders of all parties to decide on the rule under which the discussion will be held, its date, and its duration.

Later, Pradhan reportedly met Birla after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre agreed to the discussion on the NEET issue.

Notably, the Oppisition has been demanding Pradhan’s resignation after the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak.

For the unversed, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) was cancelled by the National Testing Agency on May 12 following an internal probe that indicated a reported leak. Subsequently, a re-examination was conducted for more than 20 lakh candidates on June 21, 2026.

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