Priyanka Gandhi Questions BJP's Felicitation of Dharmendra Pradhan After Resignation

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday criticised the BJP for honouring former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament shortly after his resignation, questioning the message it sends when a minister steps down amid a major public controversy. Speaking to reporters, Priyanka Gandhi said it was inappropriate for BJP and NDA lawmakers to welcome Pradhan with slogans and a felicitation despite his resignation following the controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

She remarked that celebrating a leader under such circumstances was difficult to justify, asking whether it was appropriate to receive him "like a superstar" after he had resigned over a matter that had sparked widespread concern among students. The Congress leader also accused the government of continuing to intimidate students who had taken part in demonstrations against the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues. She claimed that some students, particularly young women, were being targeted on social media through posts attempting to discredit them.

According to Priyanka Gandhi, the government must decide whether it genuinely wants to engage with students and address their concerns or continue what she described as attempts to silence those who protested. She argued that the treatment of students had undermined confidence in the government's intentions.

Her comments came a day after BJP and NDA MPs greeted Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament with chants in his support following his arrival. Pradhan resigned from the Union Cabinet on Saturday after sustained criticism and nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and broader concerns about the integrity of India's examination system.

His resignation was followed by the introduction of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, a proposed law aimed at strengthening measures against paper leaks, organised cheating and other forms of examination malpractice. The move came after weeks of demonstrations by students demanding greater accountability and reforms in the conduct of public examinations. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to all political parties to allow the House to function smoothly and called for consensus to begin debate on the proposed legislation at 2 pm.

The Opposition has expressed its readiness to participate in the discussion while continuing to press the government over allegations of excessive police action against students during the protests. Sources indicate that the Congress plans to field several senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Gaurav Gogoi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, during the Lok Sabha debate on the Bill, which seeks to reinforce the legal framework for preventing examination fraud and ensuring greater transparency in public recruitment and entrance tests.