Gaurav Gogoi Criticises BJP Over Dharmendra Pradhan Amid Student Protest Row

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday criticised the BJP over the reception accorded to former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following his resignation amid the NEET paper leak controversy. Speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Gogoi questioned why BJP MPs celebrated Pradhan's arrival in Parliament, saying he was welcomed "as if he had returned after fighting a war with Pakistan" despite stepping down after weeks of student protests.

Pradhan, who resigned over the weekend, was greeted by BJP MPs with slogans of "Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad" when he arrived at Parliament on Monday. Several MPs surrounded him, draped him with a shawl and placed a traditional cap on his head in a show of support. Referring to the welcome, Gogoi alleged that the celebrations were insensitive in light of the controversy surrounding the NEET examination and the protests that followed.

Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi also criticised the BJP's show of support for Pradhan. Priyanka Gandhi described the reception as "shameful," arguing that the circumstances leading to his resignation did not warrant such a public celebration. Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, called Pradhan a symbol of corruption and a failing education system, alleging that he resigned not out of moral responsibility but because of mounting public anger over the examination crisis.

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The controversy stems from nationwide protests led by the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET examination. The demonstrations, which began at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, spread to several parts of the country before being called off following Pradhan's resignation. After the alleged paper leak surfaced in mid-May, the government ordered an investigation, withheld the examination results and conducted a retest in June for affected candidates.

During his speech, Gogoi also referred to the human cost of the controversy, citing claims made by the CJP that 21 students died by suicide in cases it believes were linked to the examination crisis. The government has not commented on those claims. The debate on the amendment Bill continued in Parliament, with the proposed legislation seeking to introduce stricter penalties, including imprisonment and higher fines, to curb examination paper leaks and other unfair practices in public examinations.

Also Read: Gitanjali Angmo Praises Gen Z's Courage as Dharmendra Pradhan Steps Down