3 min learnBhubaneswarUp to date: Aug 10, 2026 04:29 AM IST
Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who resigned following intense protests over the NEET paper leak difficulty, stated his ministerial duties had been insignificant earlier than the aspirations of the brand new technology of the nation.
Addressing a gathering in his Parliamentary constituency, Sambalpur, on Saturday, Pradhan stated he tried to elucidate the truth concerning the resolve of the brand new technology to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who later engaged straight with the Gen Z.
“I belong to the land the place legends like Bhimabhoi, Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das and Gangadhar Meher had been born. My accountability is nothing earlier than the resolve of the brand new technology individuals. There may be nothing extra essential than the nation’s curiosity,” stated Pradhan, his first public assertion weeks after submitting his resignation.
Pradhan, who was a key determine within the Modi authorities ever for the reason that NDA got here to energy in 2014, appreciated the brand new technology, saying their aspirations can’t be ignored.
‘Some tried to deceive the Gen Z’
“The Gen Z belongs to us …Some individuals tried to deceive the Gen Z. Round 20 crore (individuals of) new technology within the nation have an important accountability on their shoulders to make India the Viswaguru,” stated Pradhan, including the federal government is dedicated to fulfilling their aspirations.
Citing the sacrifices made by famous freedom fighters equivalent to Veer Surendra Sai and others, the previous minister stated traditionally, it’s the youth who led the change and supplied sacrifices.
Pradhan, among the many distinguished figures of the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) from Odisha, obtained a rousing reception on Saturday as he travelled from Bhubaneswar to his constituency by street.
BJP leaders in numerous Meeting constituencies within the state accorded a heat welcome to Pradhan on his journey to Sambalpur, proving his enduring dominance among the many BJP cadres in Odisha.
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BJP sources stated Pradhan would tour throughout Odisha within the days to return.
Within the eye of a storm over the NEET-UG examination paper leak, which sparked widespread protests, Pradhan resigned because the training minister on July 25.
Pradhan’s resignation was the first demand made by youth protesters on the Cockroach Janta Social gathering (CJP) protest web site in Delhi in addition to a precondition for the Congress and different Opposition events for debating a tricky new regulation towards the problem scheduled to be tabled in Parliament.
Releasing an open letter asserting his resignation in a submit on X, Pradhan had stated he was “saddened by what unfolded during the last 10 days”, in reference to protests by college students spreading to different cities after taking root a stone’s throw from Parliament at Jantar Mantar.
