Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan broke his silence on his resignation, stating it was a consequence of protests over the NEET paper leak and that attempts were made to mislead Gen Z. He revealed approaching Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer his resignation, prioritizing youth aspirations over the post. Pradhan also criticized Odisha's Naveen Patnaik for allegedly instigating protests against him. The BJD, however, countered that Pradhan's criticism stemmed from the BJP government's mishandling of student agitations and the widespread impact of the NEET examination on students, leading to self-inflicted defamation. Ahead of further potential protests, Sambalpur police detained around 30 BJD workers as a precautionary measure.

Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan broke his silence on his resignation, stating it was a consequence of protests over the NEET paper leak and that attempts were made to mislead Gen Z. He revealed approaching Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer his resignation, prioritizing youth aspirations over the post. Pradhan also criticized Odisha's Naveen Patnaik for allegedly instigating protests against him. The BJD, however, countered that Pradhan's criticism stemmed from the BJP government's mishandling of student agitations and the widespread impact of the NEET examination on students, leading to self-inflicted defamation. Ahead of further potential protests, Sambalpur police detained around 30 BJD workers as a precautionary measure.

Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan broke his silence on his resignation, stating it was a consequence of protests over the NEET paper leak and that attempts were made to mislead Gen Z. He revealed approaching Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer his resignation, prioritizing youth aspirations over the post. Pradhan also criticized Odisha's Naveen Patnaik for allegedly instigating protests against him. The BJD, however, countered that Pradhan's criticism stemmed from the BJP government's mishandling of student agitations and the widespread impact of the NEET examination on students, leading to self-inflicted defamation. Ahead of further potential protests, Sambalpur police detained around 30 BJD workers as a precautionary measure.

Senior BJP leader and former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said attempts were made to "mislead" Gen Z during the protests over the NEET paper leak issue. As a consequence of the protests led by the youth movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the Sambalpur MP stepped down from his post on July 25, 2026.

"Gen Z is our children. Some people attempted to mislead them. I had no personal issues then. At least two crore children are born in India every year. During the last 10 years, 20 crore children were born. They have aspirations, and they will make India the 'Vishwa Guru'. The post was not important to me," Pradhan reportedly said.

Dharmendra Pradhan broke his silence on his resignation while addressing students and teachers at Gangadhar Meher (GM) University in Sambalpur, Odisha, on Saturday, August 8, 2026 — two weeks after he quit amid massive protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

He stated that he had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered to resign from the Union Council of Ministers.

At another meeting in Rairakhol, Pradhan hit out at former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik, saying he was not disturbed by protests by BJD workers and slogans asking him to "go back".

Referring to a protest by BJD youth and student wing activists near the airport, where slogans such as "Dharmendra Pradhan Go Back" were raised, he said, "I am a farmer's son. Even if you tell me to go back, I will come back."

"Naveen Babu also calls me a disgrace to the people of Odisha and a bad person," Pradhan said, accusing the BJD president of engaging youth in protests against him.

"Have I ever done anything that will shame the people of Odisha?" he asked, drawing a loud response of "No" from the gathering.

"I may not be bringing laurels for the state, but I have never disgraced the people by my work. I will never do any work which will tarnish the state's reputation," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Pradhan said he became a Union minister 12 years ago with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur.

His remarks against Patnaik came from a dais that was also attended by BJD MLA and deputy leader in the Odisha Assembly Prasanna Acharya.

"Keeping in view the BJD's protests, I had consulted Prasanna Bhai whether I should go. Prasanna Babu told me to come and assured me that I would be welcomed. I came here after taking his permission," PTI quoted Pradhan as saying.

The BJD's Sambalpur district president and former minister Rohit Pujari hit back at Pradhan, saying the BJP leader had been criticised over the handling of the student protests.

"Nobody had defamed Pradhan. His party and government have defamed him by police resorting to lathi-charge, tear gas, and atrocities during the peaceful student agitation at Jantar Mantar. Pradhan was facing criticism because of such incidents. I do not understand why he blames Patnaik for the police excesses on agitating students," Pujari said.

"Why would Patnaik want to defame him? The whole country knows that 21 children died by suicide because of him. Of the 22 lakh students who appeared for the examination, around 21 lakh students must be under depression. Nobody needs to defame him; he has defamed himself," the BJD leader claimed.

Pujari added that it was the BJP government's "wrong policy" that had brought a bad name to Pradhan.

Meanwhile, sources said Sambalpur police detained around 30 BJD workers as a precautionary measure, anticipating further protests by the party's youth and student wings.

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