Dharmendra Pradhan says 'govt ready for NEET debate'; Rahul Gandhi seeks apology from PM Modi

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 21 night broke his silence on the ongoing protests over students' issues, accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition of using students as 'political tools' to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. About an hour after this, Rahul Gandhi posted a video recorded from Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium detention centre, renewing the opposition's demand for Pradhan's resignation and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students.

In a post on X at 10.51 pm, Pradhan alleged that the Congress had chosen "political spectacle over democratic debate" despite the government's willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and other student-related issues in Parliament. He also criticised the Congress for staging a dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence, saying it inconvenienced the public and disregarded established security protocols.

"Rahul Gandhi and Congress continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Even after Government conveyed its readiness for a comprehensive discussion, the Congress chose political spectacle over democratic debate. Their objective was never solutions for students, it was disruption for political headlines," Dharmendra Pradhan said.

Pradhan said the government remained "100% committed" to discussing NEET and addressing students' concerns on the floor of Parliament. Pradhan's statement came a day after the opposition intensified its demand for his resignation following the police action against protesting students and its protest outside the Prime Minister's residence.

'Students deserve certainty over chaos'

"The students of India deserve far better than being treated as props in a political campaign. They deserve certainty over chaos, solutions over slogans and responsibility over disruption," Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, adding that the government remained committed to delivering "answers, reforms and accountability."

Dharmendra Pradhan's first response to protest: Govt ready for NEET discussion (Image: X/@dpradhanbjp)

At 11.43 pm, Gandhi posted a video recorded while he was being detained at Chhatrasal Stadium after police removed him and several opposition leaders from a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence earlier in the evening.

In the video, the Leader of the Opposition questioned the government's handling of the education sector and reiterated the opposition's demands.

"Why is education collapsing? Why do families have to destroy themselves financially to educate a child?" Gandhi said.He demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, action against those responsible for the alleged assault on students during July 20 Parliament march and the withdrawal of cases filed against them.

Gandhi also reiterated the opposition's demand for a discussion on the issue in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. He urged Prime Minister Modi to apologise to students, alleging that the government had failed to address their concerns.

Dharna outside PM Modi's residence

The two statements came after dramatic scenes unfolded in the national capital, where Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several other opposition leaders staged a surprise dharna outside the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, demanding action over Delhi Police for brutality against protesting students.

The sit-in in the high-security zone prompted the government to send Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to persuade the opposition leaders to vacate the area.

After talks remained inconclusive, Delhi Police detained Gandhi and several opposition leaders. Rahul Gandhi was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, while Priyanka Gandhi and some Congress MPs were taken to Mandir Marg police station before being released later in the night.

The protesting leaders symbolically tied their hands while agitating against alleged restrictions on people's freedom imposed by the BJP-led Centre. Gandhi earlier said an attack on students is an attack on every Indian family. "PM Modi believes he can get away without answers, without consequences. He cannot. Not this time," he said in a post on X. Some of the MPs also accused the Delhi Police of using force against them in order to remove them from the protest site.

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The opposition has accused the government of refusing to allow a discussion on students' issues in Parliament and has demanded the resignation of Pradhan and Shah over the police action against protesters during Monday's "Sansad Chalo" march.

"The students are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and (Home Minister) Amit Shah, action against those who have humiliated them and beaten them up and the withdrawal of cases against them," the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said. He asserted that the entire opposition believes that this is the biggest issue confronting the country today, so it should be debated in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, and "we should be allowed to speak". "I have one suggestion for Mr Narendra Modi. He should apologise to the students of the country for what the government and the home Minister did on Monday and as soon as possible, bring in reforms in the examination system," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Gandhi had said that once it became clear that the government had no intention of scheduling a debate on students' issues, the opposition decided to stage the sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence to draw national attention to the alleged assault on students.

Meanwhile, Wangchuk was shifted to the private hospital from Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday evening for further treatment, in compliance with a Delhi High Court order, officials said. "Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh met Sonam Wangchuk at the hospital," a source told PTI.

(With PTI inputs)