India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his post following weeks of protests led by the “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP) and growing controversy surrounding the NEET-UG medical entrance examination.
Pradhan formally submitted his resignation on Saturday, citing concerns over protecting students’ futures and preventing what he described as “anti-national forces” from exploiting the situation amid the ongoing controversy.
In his resignation letter, written in Hindi and addressed to students and young people, Pradhan explained the reasons behind his decision and shared details of the government’s response to the crisis. He also acknowledged his moral responsibility as the minister in charge of the education sector.
The former education minister posted the letter on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating that he had remained committed to his responsibilities from the very first day in office and had never avoided confronting challenges.
Pradhan said that following allegations of irregularities and malpractice in the NEET-UG examination, the matter was immediately handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough probe.
He further stated that a decision was taken to conduct a re-examination as part of corrective measures. According to him, the re-test held on June 21 was successfully completed through coordinated efforts involving the central government, state governments, and district administrations.
In his resignation letter, Pradhan said he took the decision in view of the unrest witnessed at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and other parts of the country. He emphasized that his primary concerns were ensuring that students’ futures were not trapped in prolonged legal complications and that national unity and stability remained protected.
However, he alleged that during the controversy, some individuals holding responsible positions attempted to mislead ordinary students. He did not name any specific person or organization in this regard.
Pradhan said the developments of recent days had deeply affected him, but clarified that his decision was not about personal reputation. Rather, he said, it was taken in the larger interest of students and the country.
Concluding his letter, the outgoing minister urged students to stay away from rumors and misleading information and encouraged them to focus on their studies and future aspirations.
Source: Hindustan Times.