His journey testament of student welfare: Govt's 1st reaction after Pradhan's exit
The Centre on Saturday issued its first public reaction after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju praising his
The Centre on Saturday issued its first public reaction after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju praising his contribution to India's education sector and describing his public life as a "testament to lifelong engagement with public life and student welfare". In a post on X, Rijiju wrote, "True leadership is measured over decades and Dharmendra Pradhan's journey stands as a testament to lifelong engagement with public life & student welfare." Read Full Story Referring to his experience of serving alongside Pradhan in the Union Cabinet, Rijiju said he had witnessed the former Education Minister's dedication firsthand.
"Having worked alongside him in the Union Cabinet, I have seen his sincere dedication to strengthening India's education ecosystem & keeping our millions of young students at the centre of every decision. Leading such a critical sector demands immense perseverance & he embraced it with courage & clear vision," Rijiju said. He also thanked Pradhan for his work as Education Minister and wished him well for the future. "Dharmendra ji, thank you for your relentless service, your commitment to reforms & your contribution to building a stronger India. I wish you the very best as you continue to serve the nation with the same conviction & sincerity!" he added.
Pradhan announced his resignation as Union Education Minister on Saturday, saying the decision was driven by the need to protect the future of students and prevent "anti-national forces" from exploiting the massive youth protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The resignation marks a rare instance of a senior minister in the Narendra Modi government stepping down amid sustained street protests and political pressure. Pradhan, whose resignation was the core demand of the protesters, made the announcement on X just hours before the third round of talks between the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Centre. Ahead of the meeting, CJP leaders had declared that Pradhan's resignation was "non-negotiable".
A couple of hours later, Pradhan shared a lengthy post on X announcing his resignation, triggering celebrations at Jantar Mantar, where activist Sonam Wangchuk has been observing an indefinite fast and where the protesters have been camping. Sources told India Today that Pradhan resigned after taking moral responsibility on his own and was not removed from office. The development suggests that the government intended to give him a dignified exit. The Odisha-born BJP leader first assumed charge as Union Education Minister in 2021 and was reappointed after the BJP won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Ends
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