India News : Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan arrived at Parliament on Monday for the first time after resigning from his ministerial post. As he reached the Makar Dwar entrance, Members of Parliament from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) gave him a warm welcome by presenting him with a traditional paga (ceremonial headgear) before escorting him into the House.
According to sources, the gesture was intended to convey that Pradhan’s resignation was a voluntary decision taken in the interest of students and the nation, guided by his own conscience. The welcome also aimed to reinforce the government’s position that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not ask him to resign and that the decision was not the result of political pressure or internal dissatisfaction.
Political observers and senior journalists believe the public show of support was also meant to protect Pradhan’s image and demonstrate that the ruling party continues to stand firmly behind him despite his resignation. Meanwhile, opposition leaders also gathered near Makar Dwar to discuss their strategy.
Senior BJP Leaders Met Pradhan After His Resignation
Following Pradhan’s resignation as Education Minister, several senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party visited his residence, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Jitendra Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and BJP president Nitin Navin. They described his resignation as unfortunate but maintained that it was entirely voluntary.
Pradhan Said Resignation Was in Students’ Interest
In a letter addressed to the youth, Pradhan said he had resigned to ensure that anti-national elements did not exploit student protests. He stated that he had accepted moral responsibility for the NEET paper leak case from the very beginning and had taken all possible steps to address the issue. According to the letter, the NEET examination was conducted again and the results were declared at the earliest possible opportunity.
