CJP protest: Dharmendra Pradhan offered to resign on first day of student agitation, says BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya | Today’s news
Madhya Pradesh minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya claimed that former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had offered to resign on the first day of the student agitation over alleged examination irregularities but was asked by the party leadership to continue till a decision was taken, PTI reported.
Speaking to reporters in Indore on Saturday, Vijayvargiya said Pradhan had expressed his willingness to step down from the BJP leadership once the protests started in Delhi.
“On the first day, as soon as the student agitation started, Pradhan told the BJP president that he was ready to resign as education minister if he felt it necessary,” Vijayvargiya told PTI.
Pradhan asked not to resign
According to him, the BJP president asked Pradhan not to resign, said no decision had been taken in the matter and directed him not to submit his resignation or discuss it with anyone.
“Later, when circumstances changed and the party decided that Pradhan should step down, he resigned immediately,” Vijayvargiya said.
Pradhan resigned on Saturday after weeks of nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and irregularities in the investigation. Soon after his resignation, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its 36-day agitation at Jantar Mantar after the Center accepted several of its demands.
Congratulating Pradhan, Vijayvargiya said the former minister had shouldered all responsibilities with honesty and dedication.
“Pradhan’s resignation foiled the plans of those foreign forces who wanted to destabilize India by spreading violence as happened in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I congratulate him for what he has done,” he said.
Vijayvargiya questions the role of the Congress
The BJP leader also criticized the Congress for celebrating Pradhan’s resignation and alleged that the opposition had not played any meaningful role in the student movement.
“What role did the Congress play in the student agitation? The students started the agitation and the Congress only stood behind them,” he claimed.
He further claimed that the Congress had become “demoralized” after the West Bengal Assembly elections and had found a “ray of hope” in the CJP-led movement.
Vijayvargiya also questioned whether any Congress leader faced police action during the protests.
Reacting to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has emptied the country’s education system, Vijayvargiya defended the organisation.
“I am very sorry for Rahul Gandhi’s political ideology and his intellect. I think he is yet to understand what the RSS is,” he said, adding that the country is moving in the right direction and crediting the RSS for its contribution.
