Dharmendra Pradhan accuses Rahul Gandhi of politicising students over NEET protests

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party of using students as political tools following the police crackdown on the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest over the NEET paper leak issue.

In a post on X, Pradhan said the government had expressed its willingness to hold a detailed discussion on the NEET controversy during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, but alleged that the Congress instead chose protests and political confrontation.

“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session,” Pradhan said, claiming the Opposition preferred “political spectacle over democratic debate.”

His remarks came after Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several Opposition leaders marched towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence to protest the alleged police action against students during the July 20 CJP demonstration. The leaders were detained by Delhi Police before being released later in the day.

Pradhan maintained that the Centre remained committed to discussing the NEET issue in Parliament and implementing reforms to strengthen the examination system, saying students deserved “solutions over slogans” and “responsibility over disruption.”

Meanwhile, government sources criticised the Opposition’s protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence, calling it a security risk and a “dangerous precedent.” They argued that demonstrations targeting the homes of political leaders were not a feature of mature democracies.

The confrontation follows violent clashes during the CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, when police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities and Pradhan’s resignation. Officials said more than 70 people were detained and over 100 police and paramilitary personnel were injured in the violence.