Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET Paper Leak Protests

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday amid mounting pressure over the NEET paper leak controversy and widespread student protests demanding accountability. His resignation comes after days of demonstrations, with thousands of students calling for action over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

In a statement shared on social media, Pradhan said his decision was taken in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests do not become an opportunity for what he described as "anti-national forces" to create unrest. He stated that safeguarding the future of the country's youth was his top priority.

The resignation came just hours before the third round of discussions between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Leaders of the CJP had maintained that Pradhan stepping down from the Education Ministry was their primary demand and described it as a necessary step before any further negotiations.

Addressing students in his message, Pradhan said resigning was not about personal reputation or political pressure, but about restoring confidence in the education system. He acknowledged that the developments over the past several days had been deeply distressing and expressed concern over the situation that had unfolded.

The former minister had faced intense criticism following allegations of examination paper leaks and concerns over the transparency of recruitment and entrance examinations. The issue sparked nationwide protests, with students demanding stronger measures to ensure fairness in the examination process.

Pradhan also referred to the violence that occurred during the students' march to Parliament on July 20, saying the incidents had deeply affected him. He stressed the need for maintaining peace while addressing the concerns of students through constructive dialogue.

With Pradhan's resignation, attention is now expected to shift to the Centre's next steps in addressing the NEET paper leak issue and restoring public trust in the country's examination system.

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