Former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says some people tried to “mislead” Gen Z during the NEET protests, while explaining that he had offered to resign from the Union Cabinet.
Two weeks after stepping down as Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has broken his silence on the NEET-UG controversy, saying some people tried to “mislead” Gen Z during the student protests.
Speaking at GM University in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, Pradhan said he had himself offered to resign and that the ministerial post was never important to him. He stepped down on July 25 amid protests and criticism over the handling of the NEET-UG paper leak and alleged examination irregularities.
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Former Union Education Minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan has spoken about the NEET protest controversy following his resignation from the Union Cabinet on July 25.
Addressing students and teachers at GM University in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, Pradhan said some people had attempted to “mislead” Gen Z during the protests over the NEET paper leak issue.
“Gen Z is our children. Some people attempted to mislead them,” Pradhan said, adding that he had no personal issue with the developments and that the ministerial position was not important to him.
Pradhan said he had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself and offered to step down from the Union Council of Ministers.
He also spoke about India's young population and their aspirations, saying that the country's younger generation would play an important role in its future.
Pradhan responds to criticism over resignation
Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on July 25, amid student protests linked to the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and alleged irregularities in the examination system.
Speaking in Bhubaneswar, he said he had not been personally concerned about retaining the ministerial position.
His comments come after sustained criticism of the government's handling of the NEET controversy and student protests.
Pradhan targets Naveen Patnaik
At another meeting in Rairakhol, Pradhan also responded to protests by BJD workers and slogans calling on him to “go back”.
Referring to a protest by BJD youth and student wing activists near the airport, he said he was not disturbed by the demonstrations.
Pradhan also criticised former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, accusing him of involving young people in protests against him.
He said he was a farmer's son and would return even if protesters asked him to “go back”.
Pradhan also defended his record, saying he had never done anything that would bring shame to Odisha.
BJD rejects Pradhan's allegations
The BJD hit back at Pradhan's remarks.
Sambalpur district president and former minister Rohit Pujari said Pradhan had faced criticism because of the government's handling of the student protests.
Pujari alleged that police used measures including lathi-charge and tear gas during the student agitation at Jantar Mantar. He argued that the criticism directed at Pradhan did not need to be attributed to Naveen Patnaik.
Pujari also criticised the government's handling of the NEET controversy and claimed that students had suffered because of the examination-related issues.
Meanwhile, sources said Sambalpur police detained around 30 BJD workers as a precautionary measure amid expectations of protests by the party's youth and student wings.
Pradhan's latest remarks come as the political debate over the NEET controversy continues, with questions surrounding the examination process, student protests and the government's response remaining politically contentious.
Published: 09 Aug 2026, 09:04 am IST
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