Rahul Gandhi (Congress) held a press conference in Delhi on Friday demanding the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan [1].
The demand follows widespread protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over an alleged leak of the NEET exam paper. The controversy has sparked a significant movement among students and activists who hold the Education Minister responsible for the integrity of the national testing system [2].
Gandhi spoke near the Gandhi Smriti and Jantar Mantar areas, where CJP activists have gathered in large numbers [3]. "Dharmendra Pradhan should be sacked," Gandhi said [4].
The protests have seen high-profile involvement from activists such as Abhijeet Dipke and Sonam Wangchuk [1]. Wangchuk recently ended a hunger strike that lasted 26 days [5]. The movement has gained political traction, with 65 Members of Parliament visiting the site or signing letters to urge government action [6].
Saurav Das, a spokesperson for the CJP, said the demand for Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable [7]. The unrest has extended beyond the capital; in Kolkata, student protests lasted one and a half hours and covered approximately three km [8].
The situation has drawn attention from public figures outside of politics. Salman Khan said the paper leak is a very serious issue and expressed satisfaction that youth are standing up [9].
Protesters continue to rally under the "Chalo Sansad" call, urging the government to address the systemic failures that allowed the alleged leak to occur [10].
“"Dharmendra Pradhan should be sacked."”
The alignment of a senior Congress leader with a grassroots protest movement like the CJP signals a coordinated effort to leverage student grievances into a broader political challenge against the current administration's education policy. By focusing on the NEET paper leak, the opposition is attempting to frame the government as failing the youth, potentially expanding their coalition ahead of future electoral cycles.
