Dharmendra Pradhan, senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and MP from Sambalpur, has finally issued a statement regarding his resignation from the post of Education Minister. He stated that he was forced to step down as the central education minister due to attempts to mislead Generation Z during protests related to the NEET exam leak.
These statements were made by Pradhan about two weeks after his departure, against the backdrop of large-scale demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi concerning this issue. This was his first public statement since resigning. Addressing students and teachers at GM University, he emphasized that Generation Z are children, and some were trying to deceive them. He added that he did not have any personal issues initially, and that the children of India, born every year (at least two crore), have their own hopes and will become world teachers, so the position did not hold much significance for him.
Pradhan also mentioned that he had contacted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered his resignation. It is worth noting that he officially submitted his resignation from the ministry on July 25th.
During another meeting in Raipur, Pradhan criticized the former Chief Minister of Odisha and BJP President Naveen Patnaik. He stated that he was unconcerned by the protests of BJP members or slogans like 'go back'. Referring to the protests by the youth and student wings of the BJP near the airport, where slogans like 'Dharmendra Pradhan, go' were chanted, he replied: 'I am a farmer's son. Even if you ask me to leave, I will return.'
Accusing the BJP President of involving the youth in protests against him, Pradhan said: 'Naveen Babu calls me a disgrace and a bad person for the people of Odisha.' He asked the attendees: 'Have I ever done anything that could disgrace the people of Odisha?' The attendees loudly answered 'no' to this question.
He continued that while he might not have brought honor to the state, he never did anything that could tarnish the state's reputation, and he never would. Pradhan recalled that he became the central government minister 12 years ago through the blessings of the Deity Jagannath and the patroness of Sambalpur, the goddess Samaleshwari.
These remarks directed at Patnaik were made at an event attended by the BJP state legislator and Deputy Leader in the Odisha Assembly, Prasan Acharya. Pradhan reported that, considering the BJP protests, he consulted with Prasan to decide whether he should resign. Prasan, according to him, asked him to come and assured him he would be welcomed, and he came only with this person's permission.
