'Drowned In Arrogance Of Power': Rahul Gandhi Seeks Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation Over 'Terrorist' Jibe

Published 25 June 2026 · politics

'Drowned In Arrogance Of Power': Rahul Gandhi Seeks Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation Over 'Terrorist' Jibe Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 14:13 IST Rahul Gandhi

'Drowned In Arrogance Of Power': Rahul Gandhi Seeks Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation Over 'Terrorist' Jibe Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 14:13 IST Rahul Gandhi demanded Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over his 'terrorist' jibe, accusing the Centre of targeting students instead of addressing exam paper leak concerns. File photos of Rahul Gandhi/Dharmendra Pradhan (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his reported remarks against protesting students, accusing the Centre of branding young people demanding fair examinations and a secure future as “terrorists" instead of addressing failures in the education system. In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that the government had become so “arrogant" that students seeking justice over examination irregularities were being vilified. “Drowned in the arrogance of power, the Modi government has now reached a point where the Education Minister is calling students, who are merely demanding their rights, fair examinations, and a secure future, ‘terrorists’," Gandhi wrote. Targeting Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said it was ironic that the minister, whom he blamed for repeated examination failures, was now attacking students protesting against the system.

“Just think about it, the one whose failures led to so many paper leaks, under whose rule 20 children lost their lives, who has pushed the futures of millions of youth into darkness, is today labelling the suffering children and those raising their voices as ‘terrorists’," he said. Gandhi further accused the BJP-led government of repeatedly branding those who question it with derogatory labels, drawing parallels with earlier remarks directed at farmers and government critics. “But this is nothing new: Farmers, the nation’s food providers, were called ‘professional agitators and parasites.’ Those who ask questions were branded ‘Anti-.’ And now, the youth are being called ‘terrorists’," he said. “Anyone who questions the government, label them a traitor; that’s the entirety of their politics," Gandhi added. The Congress MP demanded that Pradhan apologise to students across the country and step down as Education Minister. “Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, immediately apologise to the millions of youth in this country and resign for your failures," he said. Reiterating his criticism of the country’s education system, Gandhi said he would continue speaking out against what he described as systemic exploitation.