Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Some attempted to mislead Gen Z over NEET, says Pradhan
Dharmendra Pradhan is a very important leader in India.
He used to be the minister in charge of education.
Students were upset because a big exam called NEET had a paper leak, and many of them protested.
Mr. Pradhan resigned from his minister job because of this.
He gave a speech at a university in a place called Sambalpur.
In the speech, he said some people tried to trick young people, who are called Gen Z. He said that young people are very important and will help India become a great leader of the world, which he called the 'Vishwa Guru'.
He also said that freedom fighters from long ago were like the Gen Z of their time.
Mr. Pradhan said he offered to resign to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that the job was not important to him.
At another meeting, he responded to protests by the BJD party, saying he will never do anything to harm the honour of Odisha.
Former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said attempts were made to mislead Gen Z during protests over the NEET paper leak issue, prompting his resignation as Union education minister.
He spoke at Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur on Saturday in his first speech after resigning two weeks earlier.
Pradhan said around 20 crore children born in the last 10 years have aspirations and will make India the 'Vishwa Guru'.
He said he approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered to resign from the Union Council of Ministers, and that the post was not important to him.
At another meeting in Rairakhol, Pradhan hit out at former Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik over BJD protests and slogans asking him to 'go back'.
- Who
- Dharmendra Pradhan, former Union Minister, senior BJP leader and Sambalpur MP
- What
- Claimed attempts were made to mislead Gen Z during NEET paper leak protests and praised the youth as the force to make India a 'Vishwa Guru'
- When
- Saturday, exactly two weeks after he resigned on July 25
- Where
- Gangadhar Meher University (GM University), Sambalpur, Odisha
- Why
- It was his first speech after resigning as Union education minister amid massive protests over the NEET paper leak issue
Pradhan's Account
Protesters' Account
Blame for the protests
Pradhan's Account
Pradhan says some people attempted to mislead Gen Z during the protests, implying the youth were manipulated, and he had no personal issues with them.
Protesters' Account
Students mounted massive protests at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere over the NEET paper leak, which led to Pradhan's resignation, indicating anger directed at the minister and the government's handling of the issue.
- Speaker
- Dharmendra Pradhan
- Role
- Former Union education minister, senior BJP leader and Sambalpur MP
- Venue
- Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha
- Context
- First speech after resigning amid NEET paper leak protests at Jantar Mantar
- Resignation Date
- July 25
- Key Claim
- Some people attempted to mislead Gen Z during the NEET row
- Youth Population
- Around 20 crore children born in the last 10 years
- Vision
- Gen Z will make India a 'Vishwa Guru'
