NEW DELHI — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday late night came out in firm support of Dharmendra Pradhan following his step-down as Union Education Minister, stating that the resignation underscores the ruling party’s core principle of prioritizing students and the nation's youth over political power.
Pradhan submitted his resignation on Saturday following relentless public backlash and widespread student protests surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak controversy.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Shah praised the outgoing minister’s integrity and highlighted the government's commitment to protecting the integrity of competitive examinations.
"For BJP workers, the nation, our youth, and students hold far greater importance than any position. Today’s resignation by Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji exemplifies this very spirit," Shah wrote.
Shah commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decisive approach in dealing with examination malpractices, expressing confidence that stringent measures being introduced will restore faith in the system. "The Modi government deeply respects the sentiments of the country's youth and is committed to implementing the necessary reforms against paper leaks," he added, assuring candidates that those who earned their success through hard work will receive complete justice.
Reflecting on Pradhan’s tenure as Education Minister, Shah lauded his pivotal role in driving sweeping reforms across the Indian education system. He specifically credited Pradhan with leading the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), introducing regional languages into mainstream examinations, expanding the PM SHRI Schools initiative, and accelerating digital education and skill development across educational institutions.
Following Pradhan's exit, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been handed the additional charge of the Ministry of Education. Taking over the portfolio, Joshi expressed humility, committing to working towards transparency and strengthening public education systems nationwide.
