Cong using students as tools: Pradhan reacts amid resignation demand

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asserted on Tuesday that the government is committed to discussing issues related to the NEET and addressing every genuine concern of youngsters on the floor of Parliament. Pradhan also slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for staging a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence and accused him of exploiting students as "political tools" to "manufacture" disruption during the Monsoon session of Parliament. "LoP Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. They chose to stage a dharna outside the Hon'ble Prime Minister's residence, causing inconvenience to the public and disregarding established security protocols," Pradhan said in a post on X.
The education minister, who is at the centre of the controversy, said the students of India deserve far better than being treated as "props in a political campaign". "Our government remains 100 pc 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. "We owe our students more than outrage. We owe them answers, reforms and accountability. That is exactly what our government remains committed to delivering," Pradhan said.
Talking to media in New Delhi on Tuesday, Union Minister Jitendra Singh accused Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi of deviating from his earlier demand of having the discussion over NEET related issues despite government assurance. Dr Singh and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan met the Congress leaders at the protest site at Lok Kalyan Marg. Gandhi told them that if the government agreed to a discussion in Parliament on NEET and related issues, he would immediately end the protest. After meeting the Congress leaders, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the government accepted the demand of holding discussion over the matter. However, the Union Minister said that when the government’s stand was conveyed to the Congress leader, Gandhi backtracked from his earlier stance and added more demands.Dr Singh termed it unfortunate that a senior leader like Rahul Gandhi backtracked from his word so quickly, saying it does not befit him.
Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition party members were detained by Delhi Police during a protest near Lok Kalyan Marg over NEET paper leak issue.