Dharmendra Pradhan Speaks Out on Resignation and Gen Z Protests

New Delhi

Two weeks after stepping down from his post as Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has publicly addressed his resignation for the first time. Speaking at an event at GM University in Sambalpur, Odisha, Pradhan defended his decision, claiming that “certain elements tried to misguide Gen Z” during the widespread protests over the NEET paper leak controversy.

Pradhan resigned from the Union Cabinet on July 25 following weeks of persistent demonstrations led by youth groups and student organizations, including the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), at Jantar Mantar.

“Ministerial Post Was Not Important”: Pradhan

Addressing the gathering in his home state, Pradhan emphasized that his decision was driven by national interest rather than personal ambition.

“Gen Z are our children. Some people tried to confuse them. Every year, nearly 20 million children are born in India—200 million over the last decade. They have dreams, and they are the ones who will make India a global leader. For me, the ministerial post was not important.” — Dharmendra Pradhan

Pradhan claimed he personally met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer his resignation. He added that the aspirations of the younger generation far outweighed any official position he held, stating, “Nothing is bigger than the interest of the nation.”

Opposition Attacks Pradhan, Calls Claims a Cover-Up

Pradhan’s remarks drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who rejected the assertion that youth protesters were misled and attributed his exit strictly to the immense public and political pressure.

• Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President): Stated that students clearly understood the failure lay with Pradhan, as he was heading the ministry responsible for managing the examinations.
• Pramod Tiwari (Congress MP): Alleged that 152 paper leaks and commercialization of education occurred under Pradhan’s tenure, demanding a full Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his term.
• Rashid Alvi (Congress Leader): Questioned why Pradhan resigned if he believed the movement was merely based on misunderstandings, suggesting the resignation was fueled by fear and pressure.
• Sanjay Singh (Aam Aadmi Party MP): Highlighted the gravity of the crisis, pointing out that paper leaks were confirmed and 21 students had tragically lost their lives, making claims of “misguiding” completely unfounded.
• Kunal Ghosh (TMC MLA): Remarked that the ruling party was forced to remove Pradhan under the weight of the Gen Z movement because the youth’s vision no longer aligns with the government’s policies.
• Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena – UBT MP): Urged the government to clarify who allegedly misguided or provoked the youth, noting that the ministry’s mismanagement angered the younger generation.

NDA Allies and BJP Leaders Defend Pradhan

In contrast, ruling alliance leaders defended Pradhan’s record and praised his decision as a self-sacrificing gesture.

Janata Dal (United) leader Rajiv Ranjan noted that Pradhan took immediate action during the crisis by ordering a CBI inquiry, overseeing arrests, and holding officials accountable before voluntarily stepping down without directive from central leadership. Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida praised his willingness to prioritize the nation’s youth over political power, calling it a noble sacrifice.