The opposition calls Pradhan’s resignation a victory for the youth

LoP Rahul Gandhi along with AISA members who participated in the hunger strike at Jantar Mantar along with CJP. | Photo credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Opposition parties on Saturday (July 25, 2026) termed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation following widespread student protests against the NEET paper leak as a “victory for the youth” and a step to revamp the country’s education system.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called on other groups to show courage like students and oppose the government. “It’s time to oust the government,” he said.

“Symbolic but a big step”

He said that Mr. Pradhan’s resignation was a significant step towards rebuilding the education system. “It’s a symbolic step because he was a symbol, but it’s still a big step,” he said.

The Congress leader also said that the resignation is a signal to other communities, including farmers, laborers and the poor, who are allegedly being oppressed by the government. “Standing up is wisdom and courage.” Daro mat (don’t worry). Let us get rid of this regime which is attacking India, destroying our constitution and occupying all our institutions,” Mr Gandhi said in a video message released on X and later while speaking to the media.

Wayanad Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said it was a day when people started “claiming their country back”. “The youth did not bend, the government had to bend. It is a victory for the youth and students of India. I was really happy when I heard the news. I was even a little emotional,” she told the media at her constituency. “This is the day when the people of our country began to claim the country back. It is a victory for the youth of India. They did it as Mahatma Gandhi taught us.”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described Mr Pradhan’s resignation as a defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “stubbornness”. He added that the prime minister should apologize and take strict action against all those who used force against the agitating students.

Congress general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal said the opposition had spearheaded the protest in a united manner, while party general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh said the opposition had shown “firm unity and solidarity” with the students.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the resignation was a big victory for the new generation. “The government had to bend,” he said.

They strove for education reforms

Speaking to the media in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Yadav said the movement highlighted the need for serious reforms in the education sector, from primary to higher education.

Aam Aadmi Party supremo and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Mr Pradhan’s resignation was a “big victory for democracy”.

Left-wing parties also welcomed the resignation and demanded a comprehensive reform in education.

CPI general secretary D Raja said the resignation was a rare moment of democratic accountability. “It is a rare moment of democratic accountability, achieved not through the goodwill of an arrogant government, but through the sustained struggle of students and youth across the country. The student movement defeated the arrogance of the BJP and made the Modi-Shah regime answer for its failure,” he said.

Congratulating the students who were part of the protest, the CPI(M) in a post on X demanded comprehensive reform in the education sector, including the abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the scrapping of the National Education Policy (NEP).

“(Mr Pradhan’s) resignation is only the first step. Now the NTA must be dissolved and the anti-student, commercial and communal NEP 2020 must be withdrawn. The cases imposed on the protesters must be withdrawn and action must be taken against all the policemen who brutally assaulted our students,” CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby said.

CPI(ML)’s Deepankar Bhattacharya said the resignation was “the only sensible thing” Mr Pradhan had done. “The only sensible thing you have ever done, even if you have not shown the least courage and honesty, is to admit that your resignation was ordered by the youth of India,” he said.

Published – 25 Jul 2026 22:34 IST