No sacking, Dharmendra Pradhan may be shifted to another ministry: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed the government is considering shifting Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to another portfolio, even as it faces mounting demands
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed the government is considering shifting Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to another portfolio, even as it faces mounting demands for his resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak. The remarks came amid reports that the government is standing firmly behind Pradhan and has ruled out his resignation despite sustained protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Student protesters camping at Jantar Mantar have been demanding the 57-year-old minister's removal over the examination controversy.
Read Full Story Government sources said Pradhan's resignation is "not on the cards," arguing that "resignation is the easiest decision to take" and insisting the Centre "stands with the Minister." Addressing reporters outside 10 Janpath, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said students have "three demands, and these are not negotiable." "The first demand is that the Education Minister, who is corrupt, incompetent, and misaligned, has to be sacked," Gandhi said. The Congress MP further claimed there was "some talk" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet about moving Pradhan to another ministry instead of sacking him.
"This is not acceptable to the students of India. It is not acceptable to anybody," he said, calling Pradhan "a symbol of corruption" and "the destruction" of students' future. "There is going to be no conversation about Mr Dharmendra Pradhan being moved here, moved there... Dharmendra Pradhan has to be sacked," he asserted. Gandhi also condemned the use of excess force -- from lathicharge to the alleged use of pellet guns -- against protesters during their march to Parliament on Monday.
He demanded strict action against those who "brutalise students", saying they should be punished and held accountable. The Gandhi scion also said PM Modi should apologise to the country's students. "Narendra Modi is India's past. The past can never fight the future," he added. Ends
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