Attempts to mislead Gen Z during NEET protests led to resignation, says Dharmendra Pradhan

Former Union Education Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan stated that political opponents attempted to mislead the nation's youth during protests over the NEET paper leak controversy, prompting his decision to resign from the Union Cabinet.

Addressing students and faculty at Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur on Saturday in his first public remarks since stepping down, the Sambalpur MP emphasized that holding a ministerial post was not a matter of prestige and that the aspirations of India's 20 crore young citizens must remain paramount to achieve the vision of becoming a global leader.

Pradhan explained that he approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer his resignation to prioritize national interests and enable direct engagement with the youth following widespread demonstrations.

Speaking at a separate event in Rairakhol, the former minister addressed local political opposition and protests by BJD activists, asserting that throughout his 12 years in the Union Council of Ministers, he served with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and never committed any act that brought disrepute or shame to the state of Odisha.

(Inputs from IANS)