The Indian Parliament witnessed a dramatic scene on Friday when Rajya Sabha MP Phulo Devi Netam, a Congress party member, felt dizzy and fell while protesting in the Well of the House over the contentious National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) issue. The incident occurred as the Upper House reassembled after recess, and Opposition members, including Netam, stormed into the Well, shouting slogans against the government and demanding a discussion on alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Netam was suddenly seized by a bout of dizziness, which led her to faint, prompting Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar to adjourn the House till 2:30 pm.
As tensions mounted, Dhankar asked fellow members to assist the ailing MP, and she was swiftly whisked away in an ambulance to the RML Hospital for medical attention. Doctors at the hospital quickly attended to her and, according to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who visited Netam in the hospital, she was soon discharged and is now recovering well. However, Kharge expressed concern for Netam’s health, revealing that she will undergo a CT-SCAN and further medical investigations in the coming days to understand the underlying condition. “I hope she will be alright today, but she has to undergo a complete medical examination,” he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (Via Mallikarjun Kharge/Twitter)
The sudden turn of events added to the already tense atmosphere in the Parliament, where Opposition members were demanding a discussion on the NEET issue, which has been a subject of controversy in recent times. The examination has been criticized for being biased towards students from affluent backgrounds, and the Opposition has been demanding changes to the system. Netam’s fainting spell, although unintentionally, highlighted the emotional intensity of the protests and the sense of urgency among the Opposition benches to address the issue. The incident serves as a reminder of the strong emotions that can run high in the Parliament, particularly when major issues like education and social equity are at stake.
