Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his comments regarding protesters over examination violations, demanding that the minister apologize to the country’s youth and step down over what he described as his failures.
The row erupted after the Kokrush Janta Party (CJP) shared an interview clip showing Pradhan referring to the outfit as a “B-Team of terrorists”.
“I apologize immediately to millions of young people.”
Reacting to the controversy, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of showing arrogance towards young people who are raising concerns about their future and demanding accountability.
Read also | CJP’s Abhijit Deepki criticizes Pradhan’s “terrorist” statements and says his hands are “stained with the blood of 17 students.”
In a strongly worded statement, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said: “The Modi government, mired in the arrogance of power, has reached a point where the Education Minister is calling students – who are only demanding their rights, fair examinations and a secure future – ‘terrorists.’
“Dharmendra Pradhan, immediately apologize to millions of young people of this country and resign for your failures. As for me, go ahead and attack me as much as you want. I said it in Kota, and I say it again: This education system today has become nothing more than an extortion racket. I will not allow it to continue like this. Ensuring that every child gets quality, affordable education and fair exams – I will never stop raising this voice,” Rahul added.
Read also | ‘‘A diaper a day prevents leakage’: CJP makes donation request as Jantar Mantar protest continues
Rahul Gandhi said calling anyone who questions the government a “traitor” is BJP policy. “Anyone who questions the government, I call him a traitor; that is the whole of his policy.”
What Abhijit Debaki said
Pradhan’s remarks were shared by CJP founder Abhijit Debaki, who criticized him over the alleged comment.
Dipke shared a video on X showing the minister making the remarks and questioning the language used against students who raise concerns.
Speaking about this issue, Debki said: “Dharmendra Pradhan calls us terrorists. But the irony is that he is the one whose hands are stained with the blood of more than 17 students.”
Pradhan note
Pradhan had earlier strongly criticized the protesters and accused the opposition parties of exploiting the issue for political gains.
“Ye dehshatgardon ka B-team hai. Jin login ko prajatantra ne sare se aswikar kiya. (They are Team B terrorists. Those who were rejected by the people under democracy.) NDTVHe added: “They returned in disguise and are now targeting the regime and raising slogans in support of those who want to divide the country, and they have been identified.”
The heated exchange comes amid an ongoing protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where CJP members, students and youth have been demonstrating for the past four days. They are demanding Pradhan’s resignation over the controversy over NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues.
The protest movement was led by Debke, who first began demonstrating in Jantar Mantar on 6 June. Since then, he and other student activists have traveled across various locations, urging students and citizens to join the campaign against the dysfunctional examination system.
