Opposition Criticizes Former Education Minister's Remarks on NEET Protests

The recent comments by former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan regarding the NEET protests have sparked significant backlash from opposition parties. They argue that students were voicing legitimate concerns and accuse the BJP of misleading the public. Key political figures, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and AAP's Sanjay Singh, have called for accountability and investigations into the matter. As the debate unfolds, questions arise about the government's handling of education issues and the implications for future generations. This article delves into the reactions and statements from various political leaders in response to Pradhan's controversial remarks.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 10, 2026, 07:33 IST

Opposition Responds to Controversial Statement

New Delhi, August 9 - On Sunday, opposition parties targeted former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his comments suggesting that attempts were made to 'mislead' the 'Gen Z' during protests related to the NEET question paper leak. They argued that students were raising genuine concerns and accused the BJP of having a habit of misleading the public.

Pradhan, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and MP from Sambalpur, claimed that there were efforts to mislead 'Gen Z' during the protests, which ultimately led to his resignation from the position of Union Education Minister.

In response to Pradhan's remarks, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated in Rudrapur, as reported by a media outlet, that it remains unclear whether Pradhan's ambition to stay in office influenced his comments or if he received directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah. He emphasized that students hold him accountable due to his position.

Kharge further suggested that the Home Minister, who oversees the CBI, Intelligence Bureau, and all investigative agencies, should initiate an inquiry into the matter.

Sanjay Singh from the Aam Aadmi Party also criticized Pradhan's statement, questioning whether the question paper was leaked or not, and highlighted the tragic loss of 21 students' lives.

He asserted that there is no question of misleading students.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Arvind Sawant claimed that misleading the public is a tactic of the BJP, stating, 'The BJP was born out of politics that misleads people. Look at the 2G and 3G cases.'

He pointed out that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was targeted with accusations against A. Raja, Kanimozhi, and Dayanidhi Maran.

He added, 'An image was created to portray the Congress government as corrupt, which was also misleading. The youth did not mislead anyone; they spoke the truth and held the BJP accountable.'

According to Sawant, the people of India are beginning to understand that 'BJP means lies.'

MP Sanjay Raut from Shiv Sena (UBT) also criticized Pradhan, stating that the response from 'Gen Z' was a result of Pradhan's handling of education-related issues, particularly concerning the question paper leak. Raut suggested that Pradhan should meet with Prime Minister Modi, Nitin Gadkari, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to clarify whether 'Gen Z' was misled or provoked.

He raised questions about who misled 'Gen Z' if that was the case, and if they were provoked, who was responsible for that.

RJD MP Manoj Jha remarked that Pradhan's comments should be disregarded, noting that every generation believes the next one is misled, which is not accurate. He pointed out that the youth have legitimate concerns.

Jha stated, 'An education system has developed that has eliminated future possibilities. This is not just an issue for one government but a systemic problem.'

Pradhan addressed students and teachers at GM University on Saturday, marking his first comments on his resignation two weeks after the significant protests at Jantar Mantar. He stated, 'Gen Z is our children. Some individuals attempted to mislead them.'

He emphasized that every year, at least 20 million children are born in India, and over the past decade, 200 million children have been born, each with their aspirations to make India a global leader.

Pradhan concluded by stating that the position was not important to him, revealing that he had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.