Opposition Parties Demand Dharmendra Pradhan Resign Over NEET Leaks

The Indian National Congress and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have spearheaded a nationwide campaign demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET and CBSE examinations. The political crisis has caused a parliamentary stalemate during the first week of the monsoon session, with the opposition refusing to resume legislative work until Pradhan is dismissed and the government apologizes for police violence against students.

Protests escalated on July 24, with the Congress party organizing candlelight marches and satyagraha across all districts. In Kolkata, a joint rally by the Students' Federation of India and CJP supporters turned violent near Dorina Crossing, where police used batons and tear gas to disperse crowds. Simultaneously, the CJP held multiple rounds of negotiations with Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh in Delhi. While the government reportedly reached an in-principle agreement on compensation for families of students who died by suicide and the withdrawal of certain legal cases, the CJP maintains that Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable.

To address the crisis, the government terminated 47 National Testing Agency officials and proposed a bill to establish fast-track courts for exam malpractices. Additionally, activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike after receiving written assurances from the government regarding competitive examination reforms. The government plans to table a new bill on Monday to curb paper leaks through harsher penalties, though it still lacks opposition support due to the ongoing deadlock.