Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 27: Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan received a warm welcome from National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders in Parliament on Monday, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs putting up a show of solidarity two days after his resignation amid nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak controversy.
BJP MPs gathered near the Makar Dwar entrance of Parliament ahead of Pradhan's arrival. As he entered the Parliament complex, party colleagues escorted him inside, greeted him warmly and presented him with a ceremonial cap as a symbolic gesture of support. The MPs also raised slogans of "Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad" in his favour.
The display of support came even as Opposition members intensified their protests over the Centre's handling of the NEET paper leak issue.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led Opposition MPs in a demonstration inside the Parliament complex, alleging excessive use of force against students during protests over the examination controversy.
Raising slogans of "Shiksha Chori" (theft of education), the MPs demanded an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing the government of unleashing police brutality against peaceful student protesters.
The contrasting scenes unfolded as Parliament prepared to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which proposes stricter measures to prevent question paper leaks, establish fast-track courts for speedy trials and mandate completion of investigations within two months.
The proposed legislation has been brought in following the nationwide agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination-related irregularities.
Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on July 25, following weeks of sustained protests and mounting political pressure over the controversy.
Announcing his decision on X, Pradhan said the issue was not one of "individual prestige" and that he had stepped down in the larger interest of the party and the nation.
He stated that national interest would always remain above personal considerations.
His resignation, considered one of the rare instances of a senior Union minister stepping down amid sustained public protests, came just hours before the third round of talks between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had been spearheading the agitation over the NEET paper leak issue.