Dharmendra Pradhan The Cockroach leader on Saturday led protests against irregularities in the NEET-UG exams, weeks after he resigned as the Union Education Minister. Pradhan, in a letter published on“The letter, written in Hindi and addressed to the country’s youth, framed resignation as an act of moral responsibility rather than a response to political pressure. “This is not a matter of personal prestige for me,” Pradhan wrote.
Background to resignation
There were irregularities in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. Pradhan said once the irregularities were discovered, the government acted swiftly and handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation, canceled the exams and announced re-examinations. The re-examination will be held on June 21st and the results will be announced on July 16th.In his letter, Pradhan described the government’s response as a “whole-of-government approach” and praised state and district governments for helping with the process. He also pointed out that starting next year, the exam will shift to a computer-based format.“I took responsibility from day one and never shied away from the situation,” Pradhan wrote. “My determination is that no meritorious student’s future should be ruined by the exam mafia, and no student should be treated unfairly.”
False information accusations
Pradhan used parts of the letter to accuse unnamed people of misleading students during the crisis. “I am deeply troubled that even during this period, some leaders are trying to create obstacles by misleading students,” he wrote.He did not name anyone, although he has criticized Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi on the issue in recent days.
Reason for resignation
Pradhan’s decision is directly linked to the Jantar Mantar protests and their spread across the country. “Considering the situation that has unfolded at Jantar Mantar and across the country, to ensure that anti-national forces are not exploited, that the unity of the country remains intact, that no student’s future is in legal trouble, and that our children can devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers, I have submitted my resignation to the honorable Prime Minister,” he wrote.He concluded his letter by thanking the Prime Minister and colleagues in the Council of Ministers and said he would continue to work for “the aspirations of Mother India, the people of Odisha and the youth of the country”.
