Rahul Gandhi (Congress) led a protest Tuesday outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Delhi residence to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The demonstration highlights growing political tension over the accessibility of higher education and the integrity of national testing systems. By centering the protest on the NEET-UG paper-leak controversy, the opposition is attempting to link administrative failures to a broader crisis of affordability for students.
Thousands of protesters [1] gathered on Lok Kalyan Marg and near Jantar Mantar to voice grievances regarding the rising cost of education [2]. Gandhi and other Congress leaders sought accountability for the alleged leak of NEET-UG exam papers, which they said has compromised the future of medical aspirants [2].
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan responded by criticizing the opposition's tactics. Pradhan said that Gandhi has used students as political tools and is shamelessly exploiting them for political gain [3].
While some reports indicate that Congress leaders demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Modi due to police action against students, other reports specify the demand was for Pradhan's resignation [4]. The Congress party said it would continue the sit-in outside the prime minister's residence until its demands are met [5].
The protest resulted in clashes and subsequent legal action. Authorities have filed six FIRs [1] following alleged violence during the demonstration.
This escalation comes as the Congress party seeks to consolidate student unrest into a national movement against the current administration's education policies [2]. The party said the central government is responsible for the systemic failures leading to the exam leaks, and the increasing financial burden on families [6].
“Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.”
The protest signals a strategic shift by the opposition to weaponize 'student anxiety' as a primary political lever. By tying the NEET-UG controversy to the rising cost of education, the Congress party is attempting to build a cross-demographic coalition of youth and parents, putting the Union Education Ministry under intense pressure to provide transparent answers regarding exam security.
