Pradhan’s resignation is not out of remorse, says Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge

Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday alleged that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation was not an act of accountability over the NEET paper leak, but the result of sustained nationwide protests by students.

He claimed that neither Mr. Pradhan nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed remorse over the controversy despite the Centre acknowledging the paper leak in May.

Addressing reporters, Mr. Kharge pointed out that Mr. Pradhan’s resignation letter did not accept responsibility for the leak but stated that he was stepping down to prevent “anti-national forces” from exploiting the issue. “It is very clear that Mr. Pradhan’s resignation is not one of conscience or accountability. He has been forced to resign by the students of this nation,” he said.

Tracing the sequence of events, Mr. Kharge said the NEET examination was held on May 3, complaints surfaced on May 7, the National Testing Agency approached the police on May 8, and Mr. Pradhan acknowledged the leak on May 15 before resigning only on July 25. He alleged that lakhs of students had faced uncertainty over admissions, several had died by suicide and many had remained on hunger strike while the Centre delayed action.

Mr. Kharge urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement in Parliament, apologise to students and present a roadmap for reforms in the education sector.

Congress to continue protest

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the Congress would continue its protests until students’ concerns were addressed, describing demonstrations as an integral part of democracy. 

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed Mr. Pradhan’s resignation a victory for students, democracy and the Constitution, but said it alone would not resolve the deeper problems confronting the education sector. 

“Until Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has commercialised everything from politics to education, is removed from office, neither can the education system be repaired nor can India survive as a democracy. Therefore, the students and youth of this country must not stop with celebrating the resignation of one incompetent and corrupt minister. Their struggle must continue until the incompetent and corrupt government at the Centre is uprooted,” he said in a post on X. 

Victory for students

KPCC president B K Hariprasad described Mr. Pradhan’s resignation as a victory for students’ agitation, while maintaining that it was not sufficient. He demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, withdrawal of cases against student protesters and compensation for families of students who died by suicide. 

Pradhan quit to stop Cong. from ‘misusing’ protest: Vijayendra

State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra has said that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned “on his own to prevent the unscrupulous Congress from further misusing the students’ protest for its political ends.”

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Vijayendra said the Congress was “playing a wretched game of misusing the students’ protest to further its political ends unmindful of the explosive situation prevailing in the national capital.”