Questions over voter list rising across the country; Rahul Gandhi demands Parliament debate

New Delhi: The Parliament Budget session intensified on Monday as DMK MPs staged protests in the Lok Sabha against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s claim that the Tamil Nadu government was "ruining" students' futures by refusing to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. The disruption led to a 30-minute adjournment.

Pradhan accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of taking a “dishonest U-turn” on the scheme, which aims to strengthen schools managed by the Centre, State, or local bodies. He stated that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to sign the MoU but later backed out, unlike other non-BJP-ruled states such as Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, which had accepted the scheme.

The scheme requires states to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in exchange for central funding, a condition that Tamil Nadu has opposed. DMK MPs strongly objected to Pradhan’s comments, leading to a heated exchange and eventual adjournment of proceedings.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised concerns over alleged electoral roll manipulations, urging the House to conduct a debate on the issue. “Every Opposition-led State is raising concerns about the voter list, and this House must discuss the matter,” he asserted.

With ongoing tensions over the NEP, voter list concerns, and the Manipur crisis, the second half of the Budget session is expected to remain highly contentious. The government is also focusing on securing approvals for the Manipur budget, the Waqf Amendment Bill, and the proclamation of President’s Rule in Manipur, setting the stage for further clashes between the ruling party and the Opposition.