NEW DELHI, 28 JUNE

Amid an uproar in Rajya Sabha over National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) issue, senior JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda on Friday appealed to the Opposition to let the House function smoothly. He said the government cannot fix responsibility until the probe in the matter is completed. Rajya Sabha witnessed chaotic scenes as Opposition members demanding a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET raised slogans and entered the Well of the House during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.

Intervening during the discussion, Gowda said lakhs of students have been affected because of the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the medical entrance exam. "I do not want to take sides. The government has taken the right decision (to order a CBI probe)," the former prime minister said. He urged the Opposition to let the House function smoothly. However, the protesting members did not relent. BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi, who initiated the discussion on the Motion of Thanks, said it was unfortunate that the Opposition was continuing with its protests and sloganeering despite an appeal for order by a senior member like Gowda. The JD(S) is part of the NDA and Gowda's son HD Kumaraswamy is the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises minister.