NEW DELHI: Six Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament have submitted a privilege notice in the Rajya Sabha against Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of making disrespectful remarks towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The notice prompted Chairman CP Radhakrishnan to refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges for a detailed examination and subsequent report. This development marks an escalation in the ongoing controversy triggered by Kharge's comments regarding the temporary restrictions imposed on Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.
Background of the Privilege Motion
The BJP MPs argued that Kharge's statements violated parliamentary norms and warranted scrutiny under privilege provisions. The Committee of Privileges is now tasked with evaluating the complaint and submitting its findings to the Rajya Sabha Chairman before any further action is considered. The notice was filed after Kharge criticized the Modi government's handling of examination irregularities and paper leaks, accusing it of attempting to conceal its failures.
Details of Kharge's Remarks
The controversy began when Kharge issued a statement on Tuesday after the government temporarily blocked access to Telegram and disabled message-editing features ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-test. Authorities stated that these measures were aimed at preventing the circulation of leaked examination material. Kharge criticized the government's approach, arguing that it was focusing on damage control rather than addressing the root causes of repeated examination leaks.
In his statement, Kharge said: "Whether it's deploying the Indian Air Force, blocking Telegram, or catching small fish to protect the paper leak mafia—this is all something the Modi government has to do because in the last 10 years, 90 paper leaks have occurred, and 9 crore youth are suffering due to this fraud and corruption. How long will this government keep covering up its failures?"
He also questioned why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had not been held accountable for recurring examination controversies and suggested that Prime Minister Modi should seek his resignation instead of resorting to temporary measures. Additionally, Kharge accused the Prime Minister of remaining silent despite the impact of examination scandals on students, stating: "Nearly half a dozen young people have been forced to take their own lives. Modi ji doesn't utter a single word."
Political Context
The Congress leader's remarks have intensified political debate over examination security. Opposition parties have accused the government of failing to prevent leaks, while the Centre maintains that stringent steps are being taken to protect the integrity of competitive examinations. With the matter now before the Committee of Privileges, the panel's examination will determine whether Kharge's comments amount to a breach of parliamentary privilege or misconduct warranting further action by the House.
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