"Opposition politicised the issue": Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

Speaking to reporters after Parliament was adjourned at midnight, Rijiju said, "We have just left Parliament at 12 AM... The opposition parties did not speak on the bill itself. They politicised the issue. In contrast, everyone from the NDA who spoke addressed the bill... NDA MPs participated very constructively. Unfortunately, those who spoke from the Congress side focused largely on political matters unrelated to the bill. However, the fact that Parliament continued late into the night is a positive thing..."

Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, "The entire opposition failed to present a unified stance on the bill. Those who were shouting until yesterday, one wonders if they were actually debating the bill or merely venting because the exhausted youth had sidelined them...If Priyanka Kharge has said this, then I believe this is the Congress party's entire strategy. It is exactly what Rahul Gandhi is saying too. But the youth of India stands with Narendra Modi and has faith in him..."

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal also said, "The opposition was discussing the bill less and was constantly misleading the country on other issues."

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, speaking on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, said the "government is fully committed."

"There was a lot of discussion. Many suggestions came, including suggestions from the opposition... Our Minister Jitendra Singh introduced the bill. So naturally he will answer questions about it too," he said.

The Minister of State for the PMO Jitendra Singh moved the Amendment Bill to the 2024 Act for discussion in the Lok Sabha, in the backdrop of the widespread protests over the NEET-UG paper leak. (ANI)