Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday described the appointment of Pralhad Joshi as Union Education Minister as a “temporary arrangement”, claiming that the Center was looking for a permanent replacement and suggested that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis might be considered for the post.
“Pralhad Joshi is currently the caretaker education minister. At best, he might be a good coal minister. He has served as coal minister and for the BJP, but now he has been made education minister. I think this is an interim arrangement; the government is actively looking for and deliberating over a permanent education minister,” Raut told a press conference.
“As far as I know, Devendra Fadnavis can be the best education minister of the country. Modi ji has also made up his mind on this matter. He is in line with the RSS ideology, is well educated, and has experience in running the state,” he added.
Raut said the decision may be delayed due to uncertainty over who will lead Maharashtra if Fadnavis moves to New Delhi.
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“However, the dilemma is: If Devendra Fadnavis moves to Delhi, who will become the chief minister of Maharashtra? The decision is stalled due to these pressures. However, the word from within Delhi is that Modi ji has decided to provide the country with a capable education minister,” he said.
Raut also criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah over police actions during the student-led Jantar Mantar agitation, alleging that male and female students were subjected to police excesses.
“Amit Shah is responsible for this. He is also responsible for the irregularities that are happening even today. If there is one person responsible for undermining democracy, destroying the future of the youth, and harming the nation, it is Amit Shah,” Raut claimed.
He further claimed that Shah was seeking to ascend to the highest political office in the country and said, “However, Amit Shah can never become the Prime Minister of this country. He bears the curse of the students. Mark my words.”
On the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after the 37-day unrest, Raut said the Center was forced to submit to the strength of the Al-Shabaab movement.
“For the first time in 12 years, the Modi government has had to bow down to the power of the youth and accept their demands. The government should always remain humble towards the people, but the BJP governments have erased words like ‘humility’ and ‘restraint’ from their vocabulary,” he said.
Raut also alleged that many youth lost their lives during the movement and faced police action.
“However, restraint is essential as 20 to 21 youth lost their lives in this movement; many of them committed suicide, faced Lathi charges, sustained head injuries, sustained gunshot wounds and some even lost their eyesight,” he added.
Referring to the Tiranga rally organized by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in Mumbai, Raut said the event was aimed at expressing gratitude after the Jantar Mantar agitation ended.
“Flags of political parties will not be hoisted at the rally. Only the triangular flag will be present. Only two leaders – Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray – will address the rally,” he said.
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Regarding Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray’s remarks on culpable homicide in connection with the NEET-UG controversy, Raut said negligence in the examination system contributed to the death of the youth.
“If someone is held responsible for suicide, a case of culpable homicide is registered against him. If the rule of law prevails in the country, then such a case should be registered against everyone concerned – from the Prime Minister to the Education Minister,” Raut said.
He also claimed that Al-Shabaab had shown the importance of political unity, saying: “Those in power should learn a lesson from this movement: one should not display the arrogance that comes with the majority.”
Regarding the India bloc, Raut said efforts are underway to strengthen the alliance and claimed that discussions have been held with several opposition leaders, including AAP’s national conference coordinator Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
He also addressed a message to the opposition, saying, “All student organizations emerged united at Jantar Mantar. Be it red flag, blue flag or anything else, everyone came together. The day the opposition puts aside their flags and differences to unite, Narendra Modi and his government will not be able to stay in power even for a single day.”
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Regarding Sharad Pawar, he said: “Sharad Pawar is one of the most experienced leaders of the country. Prime Minister Modi may have listened to him and taken into consideration his views, but the real blow came from the Jantar Mantar movement.”
Regarding Pradhan’s statement that he “was sad for ten days”, Raut said: “If he was sad, why did he keep the young man hungry for so long? He should have resigned immediately.”
These statements come after Pradhan resigned from the Union Cabinet on Saturday amid nationwide unrest over NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Following his resignation, Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the education ministry.
