Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad: Hero's welcome for ex-minister at Parliament
As Dharmendra Pradhan entered the Parliament complex, NDA MPs escorted him inside, greeted him and presented him with a ceremonial cap in a show of solidarity.
by Piyush Mishra, Aishwarya Paliwal · India TodayIn Short
- Dharmendra Pradhan receives hero's welcome from NDA leaders at Parliament
- BJP MPs gathered at Makar Dwar to receive him
- Opposition protested with slogans accusing govt of education theft
Dharmendra Pradhan received a hero's welcome from NDA leaders in Parliament on Monday, signalling a strong show of solidarity with the former Education Minister who resigned two days ago amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
BJP MPs gathered at the Makar Dwar entrance ahead of Pradhan's arrival and waited to receive him. As he entered the Parliament complex, party colleagues escorted him inside, greeted him and presented him with a ceremonial cap in a show of solidarity.
The Opposition responded swiftly, staging a protest with placards and slogans accusing the government of undermining the education system.
Opposition MPs, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, raised slogans of "Shiksha Chori" (theft of education).
The Opposition vs NDA chaos unfolded as Parliament prepared to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, aimed at tightening the country's anti-paper leak law in the wake of the NEET controversy, which ultimately led to Pradhan's exit - a core demand of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led movement.
In a post on X announcing his resignation, Pradhan on July 25 said his decision was aimed at safeguarding students' future and preventing what he described as "anti-national forces" from exploiting the nationwide agitation over the paper leak.
His exit, a rare instance of a senior minister stepping down amid street protests and mounting political pressure, came just hours before the third round of talks between the protesters and the Centre.
Ahead of the meeting, CJP leaders had declared that Pradhan's removal was "non-negotiable".
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