Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s decision to step down on Saturday is an acknowledgement that accountability in a democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded, senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said. Praising the determination and courage of the students who protested in the national capital demanding Pradhan’s resignation, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that accountability cannot end with his resignation but must lead to an institutional commitment to ensure that no young Indian’s future is jeopardised again.
“The resignation of the Education Minister is an acknowledgement that accountability in a democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded. It comes after weeks of determined, peaceful voices raised by students, parents and citizens across the country who refused to be ignored,” Shashi Tharoor jotted on X.
Reposting Pradhan’s Hindi post regarding his decision, Tharoor added: “It also comes after far too many young Indians faced unnecessary police brutality and force for exercising their democratic right to peaceful protest. That should concern every citizen, regardless of political affiliation. But accountability does not end with a resignation. The deeper failures that brought us here must now be addressed through transparent reforms, institutional responsibility and a commitment to ensuring that no young Indian’s future is jeopardised again. The students who marched, spoke out and peacefully persisted deserve to know that this is the beginning of reform, not the end of the story.”
READ HERE | Dharmendra Pradhan resigns as education minister; hands letter to PM Modi
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, handing a major victory to youth protesters who had demanded he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks, and who erupted in celebration on news of his departure.
"Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar (protest site) and across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation ... I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister," Dharmendra Pradhan wrote in his post. "I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth." The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in New Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers.
He said that he made the decision to resign to ensure that "anti-national" forces do not exploit the situation and to ensure that national unity remains intact.
"Considering the situation that has unfolded at Jantar Mantar and across the country – and to ensure that anti-national forces do not exploit this situation, that national unity remains intact, that the future of even a single Indian student does not get entangled in legal complexities, and that our children can devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers – I have submitted my resignation letter to the Honorable Prime Minister," Pradhan said of his decision to step down from the post.
The Prime Minister is yet to approve the resignation.
The protests calling for the minister's resignation began on June 6 after CJP founder Abhijit Dipke formed the satirical online party and organised protests at Jantar Mantar. The protestors demanded justice and compensation for the aspirants of the NEET examination and reforms in the education system.
