NEW DELHI: Resignation may have ended Dharmendra Pradhan’s stint as union education minister, but not his standing within the NDA. Returning to Parliament on Monday, just two days after stepping down over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, the BJP MP was greeted with chants of “Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad” and a hero’s welcome from party colleagues.The show of solidarity from the ruling alliance triggered sharp criticism from the opposition, with Congress accusing the BJP of glorifying a leader who resigned amid a major examination crisis.Pradhan arrived at Parliament to chants of “Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad”, with BJP and NDA MPs gathering at the Makar Dwar entrance to receive him. Smiling, he folded his hands in a namaste as colleagues escorted him into the Parliament complex. Several MPs felicitated him with a traditional cap and shawl in a symbolic display of support.The welcome came just days after Pradhan resigned as union education minister amid mounting pressure from the CJP-led nationwide protests, which had made accountability for the alleged NEET paper leak and his resignation two of their central demands. On Sunday, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi officially assumed charge of the Ministry of Education at Kartavya Bhavan.At the same time, Opposition MPs led by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged a protest inside the Parliament complex over the alleged use of force against students during the nationwide demonstrations.Raising slogans of “Shiksha Chori”, opposition leaders also demanded that home minister Amit Shah apologise for what they described as police action against peaceful protesters.The political confrontation unfolded as Parliament prepared to take up the public examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) amendment bill, 2026, which seeks to further strengthen the country’s anti-paper leak framework following the examination controversy.Reacting to the BJP’s reception for Pradhan, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury launched a scathing attack on the ruling party. Citing the Bilkis Bano case, she said the gesture was unsurprising and reflected the government’s political culture.“Yes, why not? Isn’t this the same government that welcomes the killers and rapists of Bilkis Bano? This is the same Swami ji who used to garland those who raped girls, insulted them in the name of God, and granted them bail. No, what’s the big deal? This is exactly what is expected to happen,” she said.Her remarks referred to the controversy surrounding the 2022 remission granted to 11 men convicted in the Bilkis Bano case, whose release had drawn widespread criticism after visuals emerged showing them being welcomed outside jail.Pradhan had announced his resignation on Saturday in a post on X, saying, “I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister.” He added, “I am pained to see the events of the past 10 days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me.”Following the protests over the alleged paper leak, the centre announced a series of measures to overhaul the examination system. On July 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the establishment of fast track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leak cases. The government has also constituted a high-powered committee on examination reforms and introduced legislative changes aimed at strengthening safeguards against examination malpractice.
