Parliament Monsoon Session: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am on August 5

A private member resolution asking the government to bring a law to remove education from the concurrent list, and repeal NEET and NTA to allow states to conduct medical entrance tests was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. DMK member from Tamil Nadu M Mohamed Abdulla moved the resolution during the private member business in the afternoon session of the Rajya Sabha amid opposition from the government, contending it would be against the Supreme Court's verdict on the NEET issue. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions.

Opposition members on Friday slammed the healthcare facilities in rural parts of the country, alleged irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat initiative and demanded the government increase expenditure in the health sector. Initiating a discussion on the Demand for Grants of the Health Ministry, Congress member Tariq Anwar said the National Health Policy-2017 had set a target to increase spending on healthcare to up to 2.5 per cent of the GDP. He said the government spending on healthcare, however, is on a decline and the number of AIIMS opened in different states were lacking in infrastructure and personnel, forcing patients to come to AIIMS-Delhi.

TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Sudip Bandyopadhyay and other party workers hold protest outside Parliament over GST on medical insurance. TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said, " We raised the issue, GST charged upon life insurance premium and medicines, it needs to be withdrawn immediately...this GST is anti-people...this GST is adversely affecting the people of the country...we stand by this section of people and we are ready to hit the streets if necessary for a bigger movement, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee."

On the Supreme Court's verdict on NEET-UG 2024 exams, Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram says, " I like to respectfully differ with the Supreme Court because the integrity of this test is completely gone. To base the admissions, on the results of this test, in my opinion, will be very unfair to the students because we are hearing great anomalies..."

On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's statement,  BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said, " This is laughable...whether it is Rahul Gandhi or any other opposition leader, when they say such things, we all need to understand that this is the question of their relevance and significance...if they have to be on headlines, if they won't say such things, if they won't make noise, nobody will listen to them and their importance will get reduced...so we shouldn't be paying much attention to them."

On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's 'ED raids being planned' statement, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, "Rahul Gandhi's speech was very powerful and impactful. People across the nation are listening to his speech. Because of this, BJP is in trouble and trying to put pressure. Congress is ready to face BJP's conspiracy." 

What should I say about Rahul Gandhi? He makes no sense, at least I don't get what he says. The most condemnable thing about him is the words he used for the country... It's not good for the country and as Anurag Thakur has said, Congress' mentality is to break the nation in pieces to benefit themselves, this thing has been going on since the time of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru...", says BJP MP Kangana Ranaut.

On behalf of Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla, extended congratulations to Swapnil Kusale on winning the Bronze medal in the Men's 50m Rifle event at the Paris Olympics, 2024.

On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's 'ED raids being planned' statement, JMM MP Mahua Maji says, "ED, CBI are being used against leaders who speak against the BJP. We have seen how Hemant Soren was kept in jail without any proof. The high court and Supreme Court said that the ED has no evidence against him. The democracy is in danger."

On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's claim tha 'ED raids are being planned' against him, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, "The person who used to mislead people over Constitution is now working to destroy the Constitution. Parliament Session is underway; he should speak in the House. He (Rahul Gandhi) should tell who told him about this. They are yet to answer Anurag Thakur's questions and trying to set a new narrative. They are doing 'jhooth ki kheti'.