SHILLONG, June 26: Rejecting the narrative of a hard-won victory for student protesters, the State BJP on Sunday characterised Dharmendra Pradhan’s exit as Union Education Minister as a strategic “voluntary” move to thwart “anti-national” forces, rather than a concession to weeks of nationwide agitation over exam irregularities.
The statement comes after a 36-day protest ended following Pradhan’s resignation on Saturday. The agitation, sparked by the NEET and NET paper leak scandals, had seen students from NEHU and other regional institutions joining a national chorus demanding accountability for the compromised examination system.
Seeking to counter the perception of a government climbdown, BJP Meghalaya spokesperson Arnab Das claimed the former minister stepped down on his own terms.
“Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned on his own and not under any pressure. The aim was to prevent anti-national and outside forces from taking advantage of the situation,” Das said in a statement.
While student and youth organizations at Jantar Mantar and across the country celebrated the exit as a primary victory for their movement, the Meghalaya BJP dismissed the link between the protests and the resignation.
Das instead pivoted to a defence of the Centre’s record, citing the establishment of new universities and a commitment to “long-pending systemic reforms” intended to make entrance exams more transparent and student-friendly.
In a further attempt to deflect criticism, the spokesperson pointed to examination leaks in Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that while similar controversies occurred in non-BJP-ruled states, no leaders there had accepted moral responsibility.
Despite the party’s insistence that the move was strategic, the local wing’s defence highlights a disconnect with Meghalaya’s aspirants, who have spent weeks demanding transparency. Das concluded by stating the BJP would continue to engage with the student community in Meghalaya to ensure a “brighter future” for the youth.
