Accountability can't be evaded: Opposition says Pradhan's exit is students' win
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after weeks of NEET-UG protests and talks with student leaders. Opposition parties said the move reflected public pressure but pressed for wider education reforms and action over police excesses.
Weeks of sustained protests, negotiations and political pressure have culminated in a rare political climbdown by the Modi government.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation has prompted opposition leaders to credit the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led movement as a victory for students and a testament to the power of public mobilisation.
While welcoming the move, they credited the CJP's sustained agitation under founder Abhijeet Dipke for forcing accountability and demanded sweeping education reforms, action against those accused of attacking protesters and an apology from the Centre.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi termed Pradhan's resignation "a huge step towards reshaping our education system" and congratulated students across the country for what he described as their unwavering commitment to democracy and constitutional values.
"Heartiest congratulations to every young person, every student who took to the streets and stood firm to protect democracy, the Constitution, and their future," Gandhi posted on X.
However, he said two key demands remained unresolved. Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students and said action must be taken against those responsible for violence against protesters.
He also used the occasion to appeal to farmers, labourers and other sections of society to continue fighting for their rights through constitutional means, concluding his post with a call to "remove this government".
THE STREETS FORCED A RECKONING
The Congress echoed Rahul Gandhi's remarks, describing the resignation as "a victory for the youth" and particularly for India's Gen Z.
In a statement posted on X, the party said millions of young people had united to demand reforms in the education system and had ultimately forced an "incompetent and corrupt" Education Minister to resign.
The party also claimed Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had consistently championed the issue from "the streets to Parliament" since the alleged NEET paper leak first surfaced.
It said the movement would continue until the education system was reformed and demanded that Prime Minister Modi apologise for the police action against student protesters.
In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said the youth had reclaimed their voice and forced "an undemocratic and oppressive government" to yield.
Congratulating students who participated in the protests, she said they had stood firm for what was right and urged them never to let their spirit be suppressed.
"You are the soul of our beautiful nation," she wrote, encouraging young people to remain "strong and brave always."
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also welcomed Pradhan's resignation, calling it a victory for students whose voices had finally reached what he described as the "doorstep of an arrogant government."
In a post on X, Kharge said the resignation belonged to millions of young Indians who had taken to the streets demanding reforms in the education system.
He described it as "a victory of truth" and "the defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's obstinacy".
Kharge also credited the united Opposition for amplifying students' concerns "from the streets to Parliament" and urged the Prime Minister to apologise to the country's youth.
He further demanded strict action against those responsible for the alleged lathi-charge and pellet gun attacks on protesters.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the resignation as the result of sustained pressure from students and opposition parties.
Referring to Pradhan as an "incompetent, callous and arrogant" minister, Ramesh said it was the persistence of young protesters that ultimately forced the Prime Minister to withdraw political support for him.
Calling the development "a victory for a generation tired of struggling in an unfair and corrupt system", Ramesh also credited the Opposition for demonstrating "rock-solid unity and solidarity" with the student movement.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Pradhan's resignation was an acknowledgment that "accountability in a democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded".
He said the decision followed weeks of peaceful protests by students, parents and citizens, many of whom, he alleged, were subjected to unnecessary police force while exercising their democratic right to protest.
Tharoor, however, said accountability should not end with the minister's resignation.
He called for transparent reforms, institutional responsibility and measures to ensure that no student's future is jeopardised by failures in the examination system again.
"The students who marched, spoke out and peacefully persisted deserve to know that this is the beginning of reform, not the end of the story," he said.
A RARE POLITICAL CLIMBDOWN, A CHORUS OF REACTIONS
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also hailed the resignation, calling it a victory for the young students and saying the government had ultimately been compelled to bow before the determination of students.
"This is a victory for the Gen Z. It's a victory for the new generation who came forward with their demands. The government had to bow down," Yadav said.
Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also congratulated the country on Pradhan's resignation, calling it a "big win for democracy".
In a separate post, Kejriwal wrote, "The world bends, all it takes is someone to bend it," suggesting that sustained public resistance had compelled the government to act.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) (NCP-SP) head Sharad Pawar revealed that he had personally urged Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and other student representatives to continue engaging with the Centre through dialogue.
According to Pawar, the protesters agreed to hold talks after assurances that the government was willing to engage constructively. He also said his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to have influenced the Centre's approach, following which ministers were appointed to negotiate with student leaders.
Pawar noted that while the government had accepted most demands during the second round of talks, the protesters remained firm on seeking the Education Minister's resignation, which was eventually accepted.
NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule also welcomed Pradhan's resignation, saying it came only after sustained pressure from peaceful protesters, students and the Opposition.
Congratulating demonstrators who stood firm on the NEET-UG issue, she said the resignation could not be the end of the matter and demanded "real accountability", comprehensive education reforms and a detailed discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav described the resignation as the "victory of truth, rights, struggle and justice" and the defeat of what he called the government's "lies, tricks and arrogance".
Congratulating students and young protesters, Tejashwi said several questions remained unanswered and asserted that the country's "aware youth" would continue demanding accountability.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray welcomed Pradhan's resignation but said the government must now address the police action against protesters.
He demanded a formal apology from the BJP-led government for the alleged lathi-charge on students, an inquiry into who ordered the use of force and the withdrawal of all FIRs registered against protesters.
"This is the power of India," Thackeray wrote, adding that accountability for the crackdown was equally important.
In a subsequent post, Thackeray announced that the party's planned Tiranga gathering at Mumbai's Shivaji Park would go ahead on Sunday to celebrate what he called the "victory of the youth".
He said the event would also press for answers over the alleged violence against student protesters in Delhi, describing it as a cause that transcended "political parties" and "ideological divides".
Tagging CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Thackeray wrote, "More power to you and all the young Indians that we keep fighting for our democracy and our Constitution!"
AAP MP Sanjay Singh hailed the outcome as a triumph of "youth power" and said millions of young people had forced the Modi government to wake up from its "deep slumber".
He argued that the movement, which began over the alleged paper leak controversy, would now expand into a broader campaign for employment and governance reforms.
"Every mistake will now have accountability," Singh said, congratulating the protesters on what he called the movement's victory.
BEYOND ONE RESIGNATION
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on Saturday after weeks of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET-UG controversy.
His resignation came hours before the third round of talks between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had maintained that his removal was a non-negotiable demand.
The development triggered celebrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and drew widespread reactions from opposition parties, many of whom called it the beginning of a larger struggle for accountability and reforms in India's education system.
Weeks of sustained protests, negotiations and political pressure have culminated in a rare political climbdown by the Modi government.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation has prompted opposition leaders to credit the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led movement as a victory for students and a testament to the power of public mobilisation.
While welcoming the move, they credited the CJP's sustained agitation under founder Abhijeet Dipke for forcing accountability and demanded sweeping education reforms, action against those accused of attacking protesters and an apology from the Centre.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi termed Pradhan's resignation "a huge step towards reshaping our education system" and congratulated students across the country for what he described as their unwavering commitment to democracy and constitutional values.
"Heartiest congratulations to every young person, every student who took to the streets and stood firm to protect democracy, the Constitution, and their future," Gandhi posted on X.
However, he said two key demands remained unresolved. Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students and said action must be taken against those responsible for violence against protesters.
He also used the occasion to appeal to farmers, labourers and other sections of society to continue fighting for their rights through constitutional means, concluding his post with a call to "remove this government".
THE STREETS FORCED A RECKONING
The Congress echoed Rahul Gandhi's remarks, describing the resignation as "a victory for the youth" and particularly for India's Gen Z.
In a statement posted on X, the party said millions of young people had united to demand reforms in the education system and had ultimately forced an "incompetent and corrupt" Education Minister to resign.
The party also claimed Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had consistently championed the issue from "the streets to Parliament" since the alleged NEET paper leak first surfaced.
It said the movement would continue until the education system was reformed and demanded that Prime Minister Modi apologise for the police action against student protesters.
In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said the youth had reclaimed their voice and forced "an undemocratic and oppressive government" to yield.
Congratulating students who participated in the protests, she said they had stood firm for what was right and urged them never to let their spirit be suppressed.
"You are the soul of our beautiful nation," she wrote, encouraging young people to remain "strong and brave always."
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also welcomed Pradhan's resignation, calling it a victory for students whose voices had finally reached what he described as the "doorstep of an arrogant government."
In a post on X, Kharge said the resignation belonged to millions of young Indians who had taken to the streets demanding reforms in the education system.
He described it as "a victory of truth" and "the defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's obstinacy".
Kharge also credited the united Opposition for amplifying students' concerns "from the streets to Parliament" and urged the Prime Minister to apologise to the country's youth.
He further demanded strict action against those responsible for the alleged lathi-charge and pellet gun attacks on protesters.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the resignation as the result of sustained pressure from students and opposition parties.
Referring to Pradhan as an "incompetent, callous and arrogant" minister, Ramesh said it was the persistence of young protesters that ultimately forced the Prime Minister to withdraw political support for him.
Calling the development "a victory for a generation tired of struggling in an unfair and corrupt system", Ramesh also credited the Opposition for demonstrating "rock-solid unity and solidarity" with the student movement.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Pradhan's resignation was an acknowledgment that "accountability in a democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded".
He said the decision followed weeks of peaceful protests by students, parents and citizens, many of whom, he alleged, were subjected to unnecessary police force while exercising their democratic right to protest.
Tharoor, however, said accountability should not end with the minister's resignation.
He called for transparent reforms, institutional responsibility and measures to ensure that no student's future is jeopardised by failures in the examination system again.
"The students who marched, spoke out and peacefully persisted deserve to know that this is the beginning of reform, not the end of the story," he said.
A RARE POLITICAL CLIMBDOWN, A CHORUS OF REACTIONS
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also hailed the resignation, calling it a victory for the young students and saying the government had ultimately been compelled to bow before the determination of students.
"This is a victory for the Gen Z. It's a victory for the new generation who came forward with their demands. The government had to bow down," Yadav said.
Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also congratulated the country on Pradhan's resignation, calling it a "big win for democracy".
In a separate post, Kejriwal wrote, "The world bends, all it takes is someone to bend it," suggesting that sustained public resistance had compelled the government to act.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) (NCP-SP) head Sharad Pawar revealed that he had personally urged Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and other student representatives to continue engaging with the Centre through dialogue.
According to Pawar, the protesters agreed to hold talks after assurances that the government was willing to engage constructively. He also said his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to have influenced the Centre's approach, following which ministers were appointed to negotiate with student leaders.
Pawar noted that while the government had accepted most demands during the second round of talks, the protesters remained firm on seeking the Education Minister's resignation, which was eventually accepted.
NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule also welcomed Pradhan's resignation, saying it came only after sustained pressure from peaceful protesters, students and the Opposition.
Congratulating demonstrators who stood firm on the NEET-UG issue, she said the resignation could not be the end of the matter and demanded "real accountability", comprehensive education reforms and a detailed discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav described the resignation as the "victory of truth, rights, struggle and justice" and the defeat of what he called the government's "lies, tricks and arrogance".
Congratulating students and young protesters, Tejashwi said several questions remained unanswered and asserted that the country's "aware youth" would continue demanding accountability.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray welcomed Pradhan's resignation but said the government must now address the police action against protesters.
He demanded a formal apology from the BJP-led government for the alleged lathi-charge on students, an inquiry into who ordered the use of force and the withdrawal of all FIRs registered against protesters.
"This is the power of India," Thackeray wrote, adding that accountability for the crackdown was equally important.
In a subsequent post, Thackeray announced that the party's planned Tiranga gathering at Mumbai's Shivaji Park would go ahead on Sunday to celebrate what he called the "victory of the youth".
He said the event would also press for answers over the alleged violence against student protesters in Delhi, describing it as a cause that transcended "political parties" and "ideological divides".
Tagging CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Thackeray wrote, "More power to you and all the young Indians that we keep fighting for our democracy and our Constitution!"
AAP MP Sanjay Singh hailed the outcome as a triumph of "youth power" and said millions of young people had forced the Modi government to wake up from its "deep slumber".
He argued that the movement, which began over the alleged paper leak controversy, would now expand into a broader campaign for employment and governance reforms.
"Every mistake will now have accountability," Singh said, congratulating the protesters on what he called the movement's victory.
BEYOND ONE RESIGNATION
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on Saturday after weeks of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET-UG controversy.
His resignation came hours before the third round of talks between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had maintained that his removal was a non-negotiable demand.
The development triggered celebrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and drew widespread reactions from opposition parties, many of whom called it the beginning of a larger struggle for accountability and reforms in India's education system.
Weeks of sustained protests, negotiations and political pressure have culminated in a rare political climbdown by the Modi government.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation has prompted opposition leaders to credit the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led movement as a victory for students and a testament to the power of public mobilisation.
While welcoming the move, they credited the CJP's sustained agitation under founder Abhijeet Dipke for forcing accountability and demanded sweeping education reforms, action against those accused of attacking protesters and an apology from the Centre.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi termed Pradhan's resignation "a huge step towards reshaping our education system" and congratulated students across the country for what he described as their unwavering commitment to democracy and constitutional values.
"Heartiest congratulations to every young person, every student who took to the streets and stood firm to protect democracy, the Constitution, and their future," Gandhi posted on X.
However, he said two key demands remained unresolved. Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students and said action must be taken against those responsible for violence against protesters.
He also used the occasion to appeal to farmers, labourers and other sections of society to continue fighting for their rights through constitutional means, concluding his post with a call to "remove this government".
THE STREETS FORCED A RECKONING
The Congress echoed Rahul Gandhi's remarks, describing the resignation as "a victory for the youth" and particularly for India's Gen Z.
In a statement posted on X, the party said millions of young people had united to demand reforms in the education system and had ultimately forced an "incompetent and corrupt" Education Minister to resign.
The party also claimed Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had consistently championed the issue from "the streets to Parliament" since the alleged NEET paper leak first surfaced.
It said the movement would continue until the education system was reformed and demanded that Prime Minister Modi apologise for the police action against student protesters.
In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said the youth had reclaimed their voice and forced "an undemocratic and oppressive government" to yield.
Congratulating students who participated in the protests, she said they had stood firm for what was right and urged them never to let their spirit be suppressed.
"You are the soul of our beautiful nation," she wrote, encouraging young people to remain "strong and brave always."
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also welcomed Pradhan's resignation, calling it a victory for students whose voices had finally reached what he described as the "doorstep of an arrogant government."
In a post on X, Kharge said the resignation belonged to millions of young Indians who had taken to the streets demanding reforms in the education system.
He described it as "a victory of truth" and "the defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's obstinacy".
Kharge also credited the united Opposition for amplifying students' concerns "from the streets to Parliament" and urged the Prime Minister to apologise to the country's youth.
He further demanded strict action against those responsible for the alleged lathi-charge and pellet gun attacks on protesters.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the resignation as the result of sustained pressure from students and opposition parties.
Referring to Pradhan as an "incompetent, callous and arrogant" minister, Ramesh said it was the persistence of young protesters that ultimately forced the Prime Minister to withdraw political support for him.
Calling the development "a victory for a generation tired of struggling in an unfair and corrupt system", Ramesh also credited the Opposition for demonstrating "rock-solid unity and solidarity" with the student movement.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Pradhan's resignation was an acknowledgment that "accountability in a democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded".
He said the decision followed weeks of peaceful protests by students, parents and citizens, many of whom, he alleged, were subjected to unnecessary police force while exercising their democratic right to protest.
Tharoor, however, said accountability should not end with the minister's resignation.
He called for transparent reforms, institutional responsibility and measures to ensure that no student's future is jeopardised by failures in the examination system again.
"The students who marched, spoke out and peacefully persisted deserve to know that this is the beginning of reform, not the end of the story," he said.
A RARE POLITICAL CLIMBDOWN, A CHORUS OF REACTIONS
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also hailed the resignation, calling it a victory for the young students and saying the government had ultimately been compelled to bow before the determination of students.
"This is a victory for the Gen Z. It's a victory for the new generation who came forward with their demands. The government had to bow down," Yadav said.
Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also congratulated the country on Pradhan's resignation, calling it a "big win for democracy".
In a separate post, Kejriwal wrote, "The world bends, all it takes is someone to bend it," suggesting that sustained public resistance had compelled the government to act.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) (NCP-SP) head Sharad Pawar revealed that he had personally urged Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and other student representatives to continue engaging with the Centre through dialogue.
According to Pawar, the protesters agreed to hold talks after assurances that the government was willing to engage constructively. He also said his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to have influenced the Centre's approach, following which ministers were appointed to negotiate with student leaders.
Pawar noted that while the government had accepted most demands during the second round of talks, the protesters remained firm on seeking the Education Minister's resignation, which was eventually accepted.
NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule also welcomed Pradhan's resignation, saying it came only after sustained pressure from peaceful protesters, students and the Opposition.
Congratulating demonstrators who stood firm on the NEET-UG issue, she said the resignation could not be the end of the matter and demanded "real accountability", comprehensive education reforms and a detailed discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav described the resignation as the "victory of truth, rights, struggle and justice" and the defeat of what he called the government's "lies, tricks and arrogance".
Congratulating students and young protesters, Tejashwi said several questions remained unanswered and asserted that the country's "aware youth" would continue demanding accountability.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray welcomed Pradhan's resignation but said the government must now address the police action against protesters.
He demanded a formal apology from the BJP-led government for the alleged lathi-charge on students, an inquiry into who ordered the use of force and the withdrawal of all FIRs registered against protesters.
"This is the power of India," Thackeray wrote, adding that accountability for the crackdown was equally important.
In a subsequent post, Thackeray announced that the party's planned Tiranga gathering at Mumbai's Shivaji Park would go ahead on Sunday to celebrate what he called the "victory of the youth".
He said the event would also press for answers over the alleged violence against student protesters in Delhi, describing it as a cause that transcended "political parties" and "ideological divides".
Tagging CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Thackeray wrote, "More power to you and all the young Indians that we keep fighting for our democracy and our Constitution!"
AAP MP Sanjay Singh hailed the outcome as a triumph of "youth power" and said millions of young people had forced the Modi government to wake up from its "deep slumber".
He argued that the movement, which began over the alleged paper leak controversy, would now expand into a broader campaign for employment and governance reforms.
"Every mistake will now have accountability," Singh said, congratulating the protesters on what he called the movement's victory.
BEYOND ONE RESIGNATION
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on Saturday after weeks of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET-UG controversy.
His resignation came hours before the third round of talks between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had maintained that his removal was a non-negotiable demand.
The development triggered celebrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and drew widespread reactions from opposition parties, many of whom called it the beginning of a larger struggle for accountability and reforms in India's education system.
