She welcomed him like he was a superstar: Priyanka slams BJP MP for congratulating Pradhan

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the monsoon session of Parliament on July 27, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Congress president Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) said it was “shameful” that BJP MPs welcomed Dharmendra Pradhan, who recently resigned as education minister, in Parliament premises “as if he were a superstar”.

Two days after his resignation following widespread student protests, Mr. Pradhan was greeted by some party colleagues at the Parliament complex wearing the traditional cap and stole and shouting “Pradhan Zindabad”.

Opposition MPs also raised slogans like “Chor, chor, paper chor” and hit out at the ruling party for congratulating Mr. Pradhan.

When asked about this, Mrs. Gandhi said, “Don’t you think it is shameful? Everyone has seen the circumstances under which Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, but yesterday he was welcomed in the Parliament premises as if he were a superstar!”

“No one can trust PM Modi’s government because even today students are being harassed. I have seen pictures on some Instagrams of women claiming to have done this and that. Do you want to engage in talks to resolve this issue or are you still after the students to suppress them? This is wrong,” the Congress general secretary said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticized the reception Mr Pradhan received in Parliament.

In a post in Hindi on X on Monday (July 27), he said: “Dharmendra Pradhan is – and always will be – a symbol of corruption and the broken Indian education system. It is this system that has claimed the lives of 26 children and forced thousands of youth onto the streets.” Mrs. Gandhi said that Mr. Pradhan had to resign not out of moral conscience but out of fear of angering the young man.

“And today the BJP is adorning the same person in Parliament. This is not an honour; it is a celebration of the ruined future of millions of children. Every student in the country is watching and will remember every face involved,” Mrs Gandhi said.

Published – 28 Jul 2026 15:39 IST