Education Minister Pradhan Clashes With Opposition Over NEET Controversy

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and opposition leaders entered a sharp political confrontation following the June 21 conclusion of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. Pradhan accused Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi of misleading aspirants and attempting to create anarchy by holding rallies in Kota just before the exams. He further characterized student protesters at Jantar Mantar as a B-team of disruptive elements and individuals acting in disguise to undermine the system.

In response, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge demanded Pradhan's resignation, alleging that the government presided over 90 paper leaks and that 20 students committed suicide due to the controversy. Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also criticized the minister's arrogance in labeling innocent students as threats to the country. Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid challenged Pradhan to take the NEET exam himself to demonstrate his understanding of the issues.

Pradhan admitted that some teachers trusted by the National Testing Agency failed their duties, stating that protectors had turned into predators. Meanwhile, the dispute expanded to include remarks by Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who told citizens not to use government roads or welfare schemes if they consider government officials to be Kafirs, a statement strongly condemned by Khurshid.