Dharmendra Pradhan Breaks Silence on Resignation, NEET Protest Row

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Dharmendra Pradhan said he had sought PM Narendra Modi’s permission to acknowledge the concerns of young people.
He said some individuals had attempted to mislead young protesters during the NEET controversy.
The remarks were criticised by BJD leader Rohit Pujari.

SAMBALPUR: Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has spoken publicly about his resignation amid the controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak and student protests, saying some people attempted to mislead young people during the episode.

Speaking at a felicitation ceremony for Padma awardees in Sambalpur on Saturday, Pradhan said he had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought permission to acknowledge the concerns and aspirations of the younger generation.

Dharmendra Pradhan Recalls Meeting PM Modi

Pradhan said he met the Prime Minister and requested permission to respond to the concerns raised by young protesters.

“I have been a victim of Gen Z,” Pradhan said, while suggesting that some people had attempted to mislead young people as the protests unfolded.

According to Pradhan, Modi accepted his request and subsequently addressed the issue himself.

The former minister also said he did not view the matter as one of personal prestige and maintained that his focus remained on addressing the concerns of students.

Pradhan Resigned Amid NEET Controversy

Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on July 25 following weeks of protests over alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET-UG examination.

He said he had not avoided responsibility during the controversy and reiterated that he had remained engaged with the situation from the beginning.

The NEET-UG controversy led to widespread protests and prompted investigations into alleged examination irregularities. The matter was also handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while a re-examination was subsequently conducted for affected candidates.

Former Minister Highlights Role of India’s Youth

During his Sambalpur address, Pradhan also spoke about India’s demographic advantage and the importance of young people in the country’s future.

He said India’s young population would play a crucial role in the country’s ambition to emerge as a global leader.

Pradhan noted that around two crore children are born in India every year, highlighting the scale of the country’s young population and its potential contribution to nation-building.

BJD Criticises Dharmendra Pradhan

Pradhan’s remarks drew criticism from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

BJD Sambalpur district president and former minister Rohit Pujari criticised Pradhan over the handling of the student protests and alleged that the government’s response contributed to the controversy surrounding his tenure.

Pujari also alleged that police action during the protests added to the concerns raised over the former minister’s handling of the situation.