Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan targeted Rahul Gandhi over Congress’s performance on the NEET issue. He said that Congress is making students political weapons. During this, the police took many leaders including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi into custody.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday hit out at the Congress’ protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence and said the government is “more concerned about students than sloganeering”. He accused Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of “shamelessly using students as a political weapon”.
Pradhan targeted Congress
“Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia are shamelessly using students as a political weapon to create disruptions during the monsoon session of Parliament. Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia chose to stage a sit-in outside the residence of the Honorable Prime Minister, causing inconvenience to the public and disregarding established safety protocols,” Pradhan wrote on Twitter.
LoP Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia chose to stage a dharna outside the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s residence, causing… — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 21, 2026
‘Congress’ aim is not solution, but ruckus’
He said the Congress protest was aimed at “creating a ruckus for political headlines”. He said, “Even after the government expressed its readiness for a comprehensive discussion, the Congress chose political farce rather than democratic debate. Their aim was never a solution for the students, it was to create a ruckus for political headlines. For Rahul Gandhi, it is not about the students. It is about creating confrontation after every genuine opportunity for discussion has been opened.”
Government committed to discussion
The BJP leader further said, “Our government is 100% committed to discussing NEET and addressing every genuine concern of our youth on the floor of the House. India’s students deserve better than being used as material in a political campaign. They deserve certainty over chaos, solutions over slogans and responsibility over obstruction.”
“We owe our students more than just anger. We owe them answers, reforms, and accountability. That’s exactly what our government is committed to providing,” he said.
Many Congress leaders were detained
Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi reached Mandir Marg police station on Tuesday evening after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with several other opposition leaders were detained by Delhi Police during a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and students’ demands.
Some detained opposition leaders were brought to Mandir Marg police station, while a bus carrying Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders went to Chhatrasal Stadium after the protest at Lok Kalyan Marg.
Congress leaders had marched from Rajaji Marg to the Prime Minister’s residence, demanding accountability over the paper leak, action against police action on student protesters and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. (ANI)
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