Dharmendra Pradhan Defends Resignation Amid NEET Paper Leak Protests

Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that his July 25 resignation was a strategic move to protect the aspirations of the younger generation from being exploited by anti-national forces. Speaking at GM University and the Matira Mahaka programme in Sambalpur, Pradhan claimed he offered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that Gen Z students protesting the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy were not misled for political ends.

Pradhan asserted that the interests of the country outweighed the prestige of his ministerial position. Following his departure, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi assumed additional charge of the Education Ministry, and the government introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill to combat examination malpractices.

Opposition leaders rejected Pradhan's narrative. Biju Janata Dal district president Rohit Pujari argued that Pradhan was defamed by his own government's violent handling of protests at Jantar Mantar, citing the use of tear gas and lathi-charges. Pujari further alleged that the controversy led to 21 student suicides. Similarly, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed students were provoked by the Education Ministry's mismanagement of repeated paper leaks and exam postponements rather than being misled by outside forces.

Pradhan also accused BJD president Naveen Patnaik of inciting youth in Odisha to protest against him. During Pradhan's recent visits to Sambalpur and Rairakhol, police detained approximately 30 BJD workers as a precautionary measure to prevent unrest.