"Spectacle Over Debate": Dharmendra Pradhan Slams Rahul Gandhi...
The political storm surrounding the 'NEET-UG' paper leak scandal and the subsequent police action against protesting students has now reached a fever...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
The political storm surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak and the subsequent police crackdown on protesting students reached a boiling point today, culminating in a fierce face-off between the government and the opposition. Following a massive demonstration led by top Congress leaders outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a scathing attack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of exploiting students for political mileage.
Congress Storms Lok Kalyan Marg
The dramatic events unfolded when Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other senior leaders marched towards the PM’s residence to protest the alleged mishandling of the NEET examinations and the use of police force against student demonstrators.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi declared that the march was to "demand answers from him (PM Modi) for the brutalities against young students yesterday." He further demanded the immediate resignations of both the Prime Minister and the Education Minister, accusing the government of destroying the future of India's youth.
The protest resulted in the detention of several key opposition figures, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, who were later released.
"Political Tools": Pradhan’s Counter-Attack
In a swift and sharp rebuttal, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took to social media to condemn the Congress's actions. He accused the opposition of "shamelessly exploiting students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament".
Pradhan criticized the decision to stage a sit-in outside the highly secure PM's residence, arguing that it caused public inconvenience and disregarded established security protocols. He further alleged that despite the government’s readiness for a comprehensive parliamentary discussion on the NEET issue, the Congress chose a "political spectacle over democratic debate".
"For Rahul Gandhi, this is not about students. This is about manufacturing confrontation after every genuine avenue for discussion has been opened," Pradhan wrote, asserting that the government is 100% committed to addressing the youth's concerns on the floor of the House.
Government Accuses Rahul of "Changing Goalposts"
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who met with Rahul Gandhi during the protest, leveled another serious allegation by claiming that the Congress leader had reneged on a prior agreement. According to Singh, Gandhi initially promised to end the protest if the government assured a parliamentary discussion on NEET. However, Singh alleged that once the assurance was given, Gandhi "changed the goalpost" and added the resignation of the Education Minister to his list of demands.
The ongoing Monsoon Session is now completely overshadowed by the NEET controversy. With the opposition steadfast in its demand for accountability and the government hitting back with accusations of political opportunism, the standoff shows no signs of easing. Meanwhile, students and activists continue their protests at Jantar Mantar, demanding urgent reforms and justice for the millions of affected aspirants.