Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has broken his silence regarding the widespread student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, stating he felt targeted by attempts to mislead the younger generation.
'Victim of Gen Z' Comments
Speaking at a felicitation ceremony in Sambalpur, Pradhan, who also serves as the Sambalpur MP, expressed his perspective on the contentious protests. "I have been a victim of Gen Z. For some time, the way this whole episode unfolded, I felt some people tried to mislead the children of the new generation," Pradhan was quoted saying. He revealed that he had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protests, seeking permission to directly address the concerns of the young demonstrators rather than allow their grievances to be politically manipulated.
"I met the Prime Minister and requested him to agree to the desire of Gen Z. I told him to allow me to acknowledge this in front of the children. I never staked my personal honour in the matter," Pradhan explained, noting that the Prime Minister subsequently addressed the issue himself.
Reasons Behind Resignation Amid NEET Controversy
Pradhan's resignation from the education ministry on July 25 came after weeks of intense student unrest following the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. In his resignation note, he emphasized that his decision was made to ensure that "anti-national forces" could not exploit the agitation, to maintain the country's unity, and to prevent students' futures from becoming "entangled in legal complexities."
He reiterated his stance that it was not a matter of individual prestige, asserting that the government acted promptly once irregularities in the May 3 NEET-UG examination were reported. The investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the initial test was cancelled, and a re-examination was conducted on June 21, with results declared on July 16.
"From the very first day, I took responsibility for this, and I never turned away from this situation," Pradhan affirmed, stressing his commitment to preventing meritorious students' prospects from being affected by systemic problems.
India's Youth and Global Leadership
Beyond the immediate controversy, Pradhan also highlighted India's demographic advantage and the crucial role its younger generation will play in the nation's ambition to become a global power. "Every year, around two crore children are born in India. If we look at those between the ages of 15 and 25, within a period of 10 years, there will be 20 crore children of the new generation on whose shoulders India will become a global leader," he stated.
These comments align with recent efforts by Prime Minister Modi and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat to engage with Gen Z, which has emerged as a significant political force following the student protests.