Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his post, bowing to pressure from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and widespread public outcry over the recent NEET examination controversy. The CJP had vehemently rejected the Centre's initial proposal to simply shift Pradhan's portfolio, demanding nothing short of his full resignation.
CJP's Unwavering Stance on Pradhan's Exit
Sources close to the negotiations revealed that a CJP delegation, which met Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, explicitly turned down the government's offer for a portfolio reshuffle. The government negotiators argued that reassigning or removing a minister was solely the Prime Minister's prerogative. However, the CJP maintained its firm stance, insisting that only Pradhan's resignation would be acceptable, a demand that ultimately prevailed.
Pradhan's Parliament Reception and Opposition Protests
On Monday, Dharmendra Pradhan was met with a show of solidarity from BJP MPs upon his arrival in Parliament, who escorted him into the building and presented him with a ceremonial cap. This contrasted sharply with the scene outside, where opposition leaders, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged protests. They condemned what they described as excessive force used against students during nationwide demonstrations, raising the slogan "Shiksha Chori" (theft of education) and demanding an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah for alleged police brutality against peaceful protestors.
During a notable exchange, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, a vocal critic demanding Pradhan's resignation, offered words of sympathy to the former minister. Pradhan reportedly responded, "I am a street fighter, not an AC-room activist," dismissing the notion that his resignation was a setback.
New Bill Targets Examination Fraud
The political drama unfolded as Parliament took up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. Tabled amidst considerable opposition uproar, this proposed legislation directly addresses the NEET controversy that triggered weeks of nationwide protests and ultimately led to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. The bill aims to significantly stiffen penalties for examination fraud, proposing a maximum jail term increase from five to ten years and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh. The introduction of this amendment bill marked Parliament's first substantive engagement with the crisis that had gripped the nation's streets.