Amit Shah writes to Speaker Om Birla, says govt ready to discuss student protest

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, expressing the government's willingness to discuss the ongoing student protests. Shah urged the Speaker to consult the Opposition regarding the timing and duration of the discussion. The government's readiness for dialogue was highlighted following Business Advisory Committee meeting where Business Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated the government's openness to a Parliamentary debate on the student agitation and the recent NEET (UG) paper leak.

Shah further mentioned that the government had previously held a discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill in the current Parliamentary session, and despite no Opposition members voicing their concerns about the NEET examination, the government remains open to further dialogue.

Stating his intention to participate in the House discussion, Shah pledged to answer all questions from the Opposition. He emphasized that democratic solutions emerge through discussion and dialogue, and expressed his faith in the democratic institutions that the House represents.

Earlier, Shah had reiterated the government's willingness to engage in discussions on the student protests and the subsequent police action, provided the Opposition permits the House to operate as per its schedule. He also mentioned being a regular presence in Parliament amidst calls for his attendance and a statement in the House regarding the issue.

In an interview to journalists outside Parliament, Shah alleged that the Opposition is not interested in the discussion. He requested the Opposition to submit a letter to the Speaker by 2pm for the debate to commence at 3pm on Wednesday. The ongoing monsoon session of Parliament has seen limited activity in recent weeks due to the Opposition's insistence on Shah's statement in the House, demanding the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following allegations of police excesses and the use of pellet guns during the July 20 protest march.

The Supplementary List of Business announced on Monday that Shah planned to introduce bills to change Kerala's name to Keralam and to amend the National Cooperative Development Corporation Act. The Opposition has targeted Shah for his perceived absence from the House. The government has rejected these accusations. Shah criticized the Opposition for using terms like "missing" and "fugitive" in India's public and parliamentary discourse, stating that Parliament functions regardless of their criticisms.