Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress, demanded the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday during a meeting with student protesters.
The demand escalates the political tension surrounding the NEET paper-leak scandal and the government's response to student unrest in New Delhi. By setting non-negotiable conditions for dialogue, Gandhi is positioning the opposition to leverage the public outcry over exam integrity and police conduct.
Speaking at Jantar Mantar to AISA student protesters, Gandhi said the government must meet three specific demands before any further discussions take place. He said that Pradhan must be sacked and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must apologize to the students [1].
"No discussion till Dharmendra Pradhan is sacked, and PM Modi apologises to students," Gandhi said [3].
The call for accountability follows a police crackdown on student protesters that occurred on July 20, 2026 [5]. Gandhi said that the students have three non-negotiable demands and that Pradhan must resign [4].
Security remained tight at the protest site on Saturday. Authorities closed 18 Delhi Metro stations starting at 7:30 a.m. to manage the crowds and restrict access to the area [2].
The protests have seen various forms of civil disobedience. Activist Sonam Wangchuk recently ended a hunger strike that lasted 26 days [4].
"Pradhan must be sacked, Modi must apologise," Gandhi said [2].
“No discussion till Dharmendra Pradhan is sacked, and PM Modi apologises to students.”
The demand for a cabinet resignation transforms a systemic administrative failure—the NEET paper leak—into a direct political confrontation. By linking the Education Minister's tenure to the legitimacy of the examination process and the subsequent police response, the opposition is attempting to frame the issue as a failure of leadership at the highest levels of the Indian government rather than a mere bureaucratic error.
