Just two days after resigning as Union Education Minister over the NEET paper leak controversy, Dharmendra Pradhan arrived at Parliament on Monday to a rousing reception from fellow BJP and NDA parliamentarians.
The MP from Odisha emerged from his vehicle with a beaming smile, greeting supporters with a traditional ‘namaste’ as he walked towards the building. Members of his party surrounded him, chanting “Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad” while others draped him in a ceremonial shawl and placed a traditional cap on his head, signifying their solidarity.
This celebratory atmosphere followed Pradhan’s resignation, which came in the wake of nationwide protests by students demanding accountability regarding alleged irregularities in examinations, particularly the NEET-UG paper leak.
The Opposition was swift to criticize the festivities surrounding Pradhan’s welcome. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury remarked on the ruling party’s tendency to honor individuals linked to controversy, referencing the public celebrations of those convicted in the Bilkis Bano case.
Additionally, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the BJP’s rationale for celebrating Pradhan, given the serious issues that led to his resignation, including police violence against protesting students. Ramesh expressed concern over the apparent inconsistency in the government’s stance on education and accountability.
Pradhan stepped down on Saturday following persistent protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a movement that gained momentum amid the NEET paper leak allegations. These demonstrations began at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and spread nationwide, with students demanding significant reforms in the examination system.
In his resignation statement posted on X, Pradhan explained that he submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the greater interest of students. He expressed his dismay over recent events, emphasizing that the youth of India are the nation’s greatest asset and should not be ensnared in confusion.
His resignation came just ahead of the third round of discussions between government officials and the CJP, which subsequently announced that its key demands had been met and called off the nationwide protests.
