Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns After Student Protest Violence

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Cabinet on July 26 following intense political pressure and allegations of state violence against students. The unrest centered on a July 20 "Sansad Chalo" march toward Parliament in Delhi, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party to protest NEET paper leaks and irregularities in police recruitment exams.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi condemned the crackdown, alleging that security forces used tear gas, lathis, and lethal pellet guns during the march. He specifically highlighted the case of Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old Delhi University student who suffered severe eye injuries. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah dated July 25, Gandhi demanded accountability for the "barbaric assault" and questioned if Shah had authorized the use of lethal force and plainclothes personnel.

While the Delhi Police denied possessing or using pellet guns, medical reports from Safdarjung and Ram Manohar Lohia hospitals indicated suspected pellet injuries. Furthermore, a senior official from the Central Reserve Police Force noted that the Rapid Action Force, which was deployed at Jantar Mantar, is mandated to carry pellet guns for crowd control. Gandhi has called for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and vowed to raise the issue in the upcoming parliamentary session.