All-party meeting: UP Kanwar order, NEET, terror attacks and special status raised
kanwar route to display owners' names, NEET paper leaks and spike in terrorist attacks in J&K echoed loudly at the all-party meeting called by the government on the eve of Parliament's monsoon session. The meeting was chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh and 55 leaders from 44 parties attended the gathering.
Congress' Lok Sabha deputy leader Gourav Gogoi demanded that Deputy Speaker's post be given to the Opposition. He also raised NEET-NET paper leaks and internal security situations in J&K and Manipur. He strongly opposed the BJP-led UP government's unconstitutional order on kanwar yatra, worsening railway safety and Agniveer scheme, party leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X. Ramesh later said that leaders demanded that the Central Hall be opened again for MPs to mingle with each other.
Samajwadi Party's Rajya Sabha floor leader termed UP's Kanwar order «unconstitutional». He said after the meeting: «This is a way to harass minorities and the entire Opposition is united on this issue.» CPIM leader John Brittas said the pilgrimage routes should not be used to divide the society. Most Opposition parties including RJD, CPI, AAP, IUML, AIMIM spoke strongly against the order. BJP's erstwhile ally SAD also criticised the order.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh referred to the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and raised the issue of misuse of investigative agencies. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked why cases have been registered for raising flags of Palestine in solidarity with the sufferings of the people of the west Asian
