‘Don't Create Fear Among Youth’: Dharmendra Pradhan Says Rahul Gandhi ‘Misled’ NEET Aspirants

Published 25 June 2026 · education

‘Don't Create Fear Among Youth’: Dharmendra Pradhan Says Rahul Gandhi ‘Misled’ NEET Aspirants Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 10:10 IST Dharmendra

‘Don't Create Fear Among Youth’: Dharmendra Pradhan Says Rahul Gandhi ‘Misled’ NEET Aspirants Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 10:10 IST Dharmendra Pradhan said that Rahul Gandhi created a sense of fear and panic among NEET aspirants for his own political benefits. Rapid Read Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Lok Sabha LOP Rahul Gandhi. NEET-UG Row: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress over the NEET-UG exam 2026, accusing Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of misleading aspirants and creating fear among young students for political reasons. While speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, the Union Minister targeted the Lok Sabha LOP and said that he created a sense of fear and panic among aspirants for his own political benefits. He warned the opposition to not do politics on issues related to students. “Opposition and Rahul Gandhi should not do politics. Rahul Gandhi tried to create fear in the minds of the youth. Rahul Gandhi misled the NEET aspirants. Don’t mislead and put fear in the minds of the new generation. We all have a responsibility towards them," he said. “I don’t want to indulge in politics when the matter concerns the future of the students, but the opposition’s decision to hold a rally in Kota just days before the examination was not appropriate," he added.

Responding to the opposition’s attacks on the Centre for using the armed forces during the exam, Pradhan said, “What is the problem if the Indian Air Force and CAPF were used for the youth of India?" Pradhan also targeted the Congress by referring to an incident in which some students allegedly faced difficulties reaching their examination centre because of a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. “Three students could not reach their NEET examination because of Kharge’s rally. He later apologised to them. How can the Congress lecture us on this issue?" the minister asked. The Union Minister also commented on the ongoing “Cockroach Janta Party movement", saying everyone had the right to express their views but questioned the political forces backing the campaign. “Everybody has the right to put forward their point of view. But we must ask who is behind such movements. The Cockroach Janata Party is Rahul Gandhi’s B-team," Pradhan said. Pradhan Says NEET Re-Exam Conducted Successfully He further defended the government’s handling of the medical entrance re-examination and said that extensive measures were taken to ensure a smooth and transparent process. Pradhan said that the government had acknowledged lapses in the past and taken corrective steps to strengthen the examination system.