NEW DELHI: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday accused leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress of “shamelessly exploiting students as political tools” following the grand-old-party’s protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the NEET paper leak.In a social media post on X, Pradhan said Congress chose to stage a dharna outside PM Modi’s residence, causing inconvenience to the public and disregarding established security protocols.“LoP Shri Rahul Gandhi and Congress continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament,” the education minister said.“Shri Rahul Gandhi and Congress chose to stage a dharna outside the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s residence, causing inconvenience to the public and disregarding established security protocols,” he added.Further, Pradhan said Congress “chose spectacle over democratic debate” despite the government conveying its readiness for a comprehensive discussion on the NEET paper leak issue.“Even after the government conveyed its readiness for a comprehensive discussion, the Congress chose political spectacle over democratic debate. Their objective was never solutions for students; it was disruption for political headlines,” he said.“For Rahul Gandhi, this is not about students. This is about manufacturing confrontation after every genuine avenue for discussion has been opened,” he added.Pradhan said the government owes students answers, reforms and accountability rather than outrage.“Our government remains 100% committed to discussing NEET and addressing every genuine concern of our youth on the floor of the House. The students of India deserve far better than being treated as props in a political campaign. They deserve certainty over chaos, solutions over slogans and responsibility over disruption,” the education minister said.“We owe our students more than outrage. We owe them answers, reforms and accountability. That is exactly what our government remains committed to delivering,” he added.
