New Delhi: Opposition leaders on Saturday reacted sharply to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal calling it a “big win for democracy” and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge describing it as a victory for students and the “defeat of Mr. Modi’s stubbornness.”
Soon after Pradhan resigned from his post, Kejriwal, in a video message posted on X, praised the students for their sustained efforts during the protests and congratulated all those who participated in the demonstrations.
“Big congratulations to the youths and Gen Z, your efforts have led to Dharmendra Pradhan resigning from his post. After such a big agitation, the government’s arrogance was broken by the voice of the people. This is a big win for democracy,” the former Delhi Chief Minister said.
Reacting to Pradhan’s resignation, Kharge said the voice of students had finally “reached the threshold of arrogant power.”
“India’s ‘Students’ Echo’ has finally reached the threshold of the arrogant power. This is the victory of our millions of youth who raised their voices on the streets across the country to fix the education system. This is the victory of truth and the defeat of Mr. Modi’s stubbornness,” he said in a statement posted on X.
The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha further said the resignation marked a victory for families who had lost their children and for the united Opposition, which, he said, had raised its voice from Parliament to the streets in the interest of students.
“This is the victory of all those families who lost their blood, their children, because this government is corrupt. This is the victory of the united opposition, who raised their voices from Parliament to the streets in the interest of the students. Now it is Mr. Modi’s turn to apologize to our young generation and to take strict action against those who unleashed lathis, batons, and pellet guns on them,” Kharge said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Pradhan’s resignation should have come much earlier, arguing that the government could have avoided the damage caused by the issue had it acted sooner.
“Better late than never. This should have come earlier. There wouldn’t have been so much damage. The young generation across the country has lost faith in exams, so the entire system should change. A new system should be introduced,” Hooda told media persons.
The Indian National Congress (INC), in a statement posted on X, said that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the party had been fighting for justice for the youth since the NEET paper leak, both on the streets and in Parliament.
“From the very first day of the NEET paper leak, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party have fought for justice for the youth – from the streets to Parliament. This fight will continue until the education system is fixed. Narendra Modi must apologize for ordering lathi charges and pellet-gun attacks on our youth,” the party said.