During a Rajya Sabha debate on Monday concerning the drowning of three students after their coaching centre in Delhi was flooded, the INDIA bloc navigated a delicate situation involving their ally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs the capital.

The Treasury Benches sought to pin the blame on AAP and pushed for a debate under Rule 267, which allows for urgent discussions by setting aside other agenda items. This rule is rarely invoked in Parliament. Ultimately, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar allowed the debate under Rule 176, which provides for a short-duration discussion.

INDIA bloc members had mixed responses. Tiruchi Siva of the DMK blamed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi V K Saxena, accusing him of obstructing the AAP government’s functions. Other leaders from the Congress, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, and IUML pointed fingers at the coaching institutes and questioned how the Union government allowed such institutions to proliferate.

Congress and Trinamool Congress leaders questioned the prioritization of this discussion over other pressing issues. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala highlighted the party’s repeated, ignored calls for discussions under Rule 267 on topics like the situation in Manipur, Jammu, and Chinese territorial incursions. The TMC’s Derek O’Brien listed other important issues needing attention, such as recent railway accidents, NEET-UG exam irregularities, Assam floods, and Parliament security breaches.

Surjewala attributed the coaching institute deaths to the “privatization of education,” accusing the BJP government of fostering “crony capitalist” institutes while undermining the public education system. He called for regulation of these institutes and their fee structures, citing frequent exam paper leaks as another issue affecting students.

RJD’s Manoj Kumar Jha criticized the “political economy of coaching institutes,” blaming the Centre’s interference for leaving the AAP government with “responsibility without power.” CPI(M) MP John Brittas suggested that education should be exclusively managed by states and highlighted the lack of permissions for many coaching institutes. IUML’s Haris Beeran advocated for standard operating procedures, while CPI’s Santhosh Kumar P called for a white paper on these institutes and an end to centralized exams like NEET.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh defended the party’s efforts, claiming they had established pipelines and sewerage systems for Delhi’s residents, which was why they were reelected. Singh accused the Centre of hampering Delhi’s administration, saying, “You have tied our hands and legs and thrown us into the swimming pool and are asking us to win a gold medal.”

Rebel leader Swati Maliwal criticized her party, suggesting those who take credit for Delhi’s development should also accept responsibility for the deaths. She called for action against both those running the coaching centers and those permitting their operation in basements, a sentiment echoed by the Treasury Benches.