New Delhi, August 16: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenor Saurav Das on Sunday raised serious concerns over parliamentary accountability after three sets of questions related to student protests and the NEET-UG 2026 examination were disallowed during the recently concluded Lok Sabha session.

In a post on X, Das said the rejection of the questions undermined the role of Parliament and questioned why Home Minister Amit Shah did not address the House over police action during weeks of protests.

“ALARMING. During the recently concluded Lok Sabha session, three sets of questions concerning the Cockroach Janta Party-led youth protests were DISALLOWED on the Union government’s behest,” Das said.

According to him, Lok Sabha MP Matheswaran V.S. had submitted questions to the Union Home Ministry and the Union Education Ministry under Notice Reference Nos. 101799 and 101801.

“If these questions cannot be asked in Parliament, where exactly is the Government supposed to be held accountable? Through protests?” Das asked. “Why did Home Minister Amit Shah not come before Parliament during those crucial weeks and answer questions concerning the police action against protesters?”

The questions reportedly sought responses on issues including refunds for NEET-UG 2026 candidates, concerns over alleged paper leaks, the availability of drinking water and sanitation facilities for protesters in Delhi, and the government’s engagement with students participating in peaceful demonstrations.

Das said the questions were rejected under several provisions of Rule 41(2), including clauses (i), (iv), (v), (xviii) and (xxii), which he described as “very bizarre justifications” for questions he considered legitimate matters of public concern.

“Look at what Parliament was being asked to seek answers on: refund of application fees for NEET-UG 2026, growing public distrust in the government, denial of drinking water and sanitation facilities to CJP protesters in Delhi, the government’s engagement with protesting students and youth, student welfare, paper leaks and education reforms, and the treatment of citizens exercising their fundamental right to peaceful protest,” Das said.

He argued that the ability of Members of Parliament to question the executive was central to parliamentary democracy.

“The right of an MP to question the Executive is not some procedural nuisance but is actually the heart of parliamentary democracy,” Das said. “Question Hour exists precisely because ministers who exercise enormous public power must answer to the elected representatives of the people.”

Warning against what he described as the erosion of parliamentary scrutiny, Das said citizens would increasingly be forced to take their grievances to the streets if democratic institutions failed to provide avenues for accountability.

“You can’t gag Parliament and make it a rubber stamp for your half-baked policies. You cannot ignore the youth. This is not our idea of India,” he added.

The controversy comes after months of protests led by the CJP over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, paper leaks and wider concerns surrounding education and student welfare. The organisation launched a nationwide agitation in June, with major demonstrations centred in Delhi before expanding to other parts of the country.

Demonstrations continued for several weeks at Jantar Mantar before the organisation announced the withdrawal of its nationwide agitation on July 25 following negotiations and other developments involving the government.

The movement subsequently raised objections to FIRs registered against protesters. The CJP has argued that the cases should be formally withdrawn rather than merely left without active prosecution or further pursuit.

Das’s remarks represent the CJP’s account of the developments surrounding the disallowed parliamentary questions. The specific reasons for their rejection would ultimately need to be assessed in the context of the applicable Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.

The episode has nevertheless added to the CJP’s broader campaign to position itself as a youth-focused political movement challenging the government over education, examination irregularities and the treatment of protesters.

Das has also previously criticised the manner in which the government has sought to engage with the organisation, rejecting invitations for talks at a minister’s residence and arguing that any discussions should instead take place at a neutral public venue.( ANI)