Rahul Gandhi welcomed Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, calling it a major step towards education reforms. He congratulated protesting students and urged the government to ensure accountability over the NEET-UG controversy.
New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday welcomed the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, describing it as a significant step towards reforming India’s education system. He credited students across the country for their sustained protests and urged other sections of society to continue raising their voices through constitutional means.
Sharing a video message on X after meeting a group of protesting students at his residence, Rahul Gandhi said the resignation marked a “symbolic victory” for students and young people fighting for transparency and accountability in the education system.
‘Students Defended the Constitution’
Congratulating students for their protests, Gandhi said the movement had protected democracy, the Constitution, and the future of millions of young Indians.
He described Pradhan’s resignation as an important milestone but added that it was only the beginning of broader reforms needed in the country’s education sector.
Rahul Gandhi Demands Accountability
The Congress leader said the opposition’s fight is far from over and outlined two key demands before the Centre:
- Action against those allegedly responsible for using force against student protesters.
- A public apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to students affected during the demonstrations.
Rahul Gandhi also appealed to farmers, labourers, youth, and other sections of society to continue asserting their rights through peaceful and constitutional means.
Congress Says Student Pressure Forced Resignation
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed Dharmendra Pradhan was compelled to resign due to sustained pressure from students and the Opposition.
He described the resignation as a victory for India’s youth and alleged that the former minister failed to adequately address the NEET-UG controversy, examination reforms, and issues related to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Ramesh further said the Congress would continue demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities and action against those responsible for the treatment of protesting students.
Background
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned earlier on Saturday, stating that his decision was taken in the larger interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests over examination irregularities were not exploited by anti-national forces.
The resignation followed weeks of nationwide demonstrations demanding greater transparency, accountability, and structural reforms in India’s competitive examination system.
The Centre has also announced plans to introduce stronger anti-paper leak measures, including conducting NEET-UG in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from next year and proposing stricter laws against examination malpractice.
About the Author
