Politics
‘I Am Ready to Discuss Everything’: Amit Shah Sets 3 PM Deadline for Opposition as Parliament Standoff Escalates…
Home Minister Amit Shah said the government is prepared to answer every question on the NEET issue and other matters, challenging the Opposition to submit a request for discussion by 3 PM.
The standoff between the government and the Opposition over disruptions in Parliament intensified on Wednesday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah making a fresh offer for a debate and setting a deadline for the Opposition.
Speaking as he arrived in Parliament, Shah accused the Opposition of repeatedly preventing both Houses from functioning and said the government had nothing to hide.
He also directly addressed the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the NEET issue and student protests, saying the government was prepared to discuss the matter and answer questions raised by MPs.
“I am ready to answer any questions in Parliament,” Shah said, while accusing the Opposition of not allowing the discussion to take place.
Amit Shah’s 3 PM Challenge
Shah went a step further by setting a specific deadline.
He challenged the Opposition to submit a letter to the Speaker by 3 PM, saying the government was ready for discussions from 3 PM on Wednesday until 3 PM the following day.
“We are ready for all kinds of discussions from 3 pm today until 3 pm tomorrow,” Shah said.
He added that he would remain present in the House, listen to MPs and respond to their questions.
“The government has nothing to hide,” he said.
The Home Minister also said he was prepared to discuss why he believed the Opposition was unwilling to participate in a debate.
‘What Is the Point of Anyone Going Inside?’
Shah also responded to criticism that he had not been attending Parliament regularly.
He said he had been present in Parliament and had been sitting in his chamber since the session began, but argued that repeated disruptions had made it difficult for proceedings to continue.
“But the Opposition is not allowing Parliament to function in either House,” Shah said.
He questioned the purpose of entering the House if proceedings were continuously disrupted.
Shah also referred to terms such as “missing” and “fugitives”, saying these words had only recently become part of India’s public and parliamentary discourse.
NEET Debate Remains at the Centre
The dispute over the NEET issue has become one of the major flashpoints between the government and the Opposition.
Shah said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had already made it clear that the government was willing to discuss all aspects of the matter.
According to Shah, he too was prepared to respond to questions from MPs.
The government has maintained that Parliament should be allowed to function so that issues can be debated through the established parliamentary process.
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Opposition Demands Answers on Student Protests
The Congress, meanwhile, has continued to target the Home Minister over the handling of student protests.
The Opposition has been protesting for more than three weeks and has demanded Shah’s presence in the Lok Sabha over alleged police action against students in Delhi on July 20.
The Congress has also criticised Shah as a “no-show” in the Lok Sabha despite government business being listed against his name.
The Opposition’s position is that any discussion should specifically address allegations surrounding the use of pellets against protesting students, including questions over who authorised the action.
Government- Opposition Standoff Continues
The government’s offer for a debate on Monday and Shah’s latest response have so far failed to resolve the parliamentary deadlock.
While the government says it is willing to discuss the issue and answer questions, the Opposition continues to insist that the Home Minister must directly address its specific concerns over the police action.
Shah’s latest challenge therefore puts the focus firmly back on Parliament.
With the Home Minister offering to remain present for a full 24-hour window and answer questions, the next move now rests with the Opposition.
Whether the 3 PM deadline leads to an actual debate — or another day of disruption — could determine whether the latest attempt to break the deadlock succeeds.
