Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Former Union Education Minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan has spoken publicly about his resignation from the Union Cabinet, saying that attempts were made to mislead young people during the protests surrounding the NEET examination controversy.
Pradhan made the remarks while addressing students and teachers at GM University in Bhubaneswar, nearly two weeks after leaving the Education Ministry amid intense criticism over the alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET examination.
Describing the younger generation as a key force in India’s future, Pradhan said the aspirations of Gen Z should not be undermined by political or other attempts to influence them. He maintained that the ministerial position itself was never his priority and that the country’s young population remained more important.
Pradhan said he had personally approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered to resign from the Union Council of Ministers. He formally stepped down as Union Education Minister on July 25.
The NEET controversy had triggered widespread student protests, with demonstrators demanding accountability over allegations of examination irregularities and the handling of the issue by the authorities.
During another programme in Rairakhol, Pradhan shifted his focus to political criticism from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Responding to protests and slogans calling on him to leave, he said such demonstrations would not prevent him from returning to Odisha or engaging with people.
Calling himself the son of a farmer, Pradhan said he was not intimidated by political opposition. He also took aim at former Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik over criticism directed at him.
Pradhan questioned whether his actions had ever brought disrepute to Odisha and said that although he might not always have brought recognition to the state, he had never intentionally done anything that would tarnish its reputation.
He also referred to his political journey at the Centre, saying that he had entered the Union ministry with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur.
The Rairakhol programme was also attended by BJD MLA and deputy leader of the Odisha Assembly Prasanna Acharya. Pradhan said he had spoken to Acharya before attending the event because of the possibility of protests by BJD supporters. According to Pradhan, Acharya assured him that he would be welcomed at the programme.
The BJD subsequently rejected Pradhan’s criticism. Sambalpur district BJD president and former minister Rohit Pujari said the criticism against Pradhan stemmed from the government’s handling of the student agitation rather than any attempt by Naveen Patnaik to personally defame him.
Pujari alleged that police action during the student demonstrations, including the use of force and tear gas, had contributed to public anger against the former education minister. He questioned why Patnaik was being held responsible for actions taken by the police during the protests.
