Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said attempts were made to “mislead” GenZ during the protests over the NEET paper leak case, which forced him to resign as Union Education Minister.
Pradhan made the big remarks on his resignation while addressing students and teachers at GM University in Bhubaneswar, exactly two weeks after resigning amid massive protests over the issue at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
‘Position Was Not Important To Me’: Pradhan
Pradhan said, “Gen Z is our children. I have been a victim of Gen Z. Some people attempted to mislead them. I had no personal issues then. At least two crore children are born in India every year. During the last 10 years, 20 crore children were born. They have aspirations, and they will make India the ‘Vishwa Guru’. The post was not important to me.”
Pradhan added that he had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered to resign from the Union Council of Ministers. Following this, Pradhan resigned from the ministry on July 25.
“I met the Prime Minister and requested him to agree to the desire of Gen Z. I told him to allow me to acknowledge this in front of the children. I never staked my personal honour in the matter,” he added.
Pradhan Targets BJD, Naveen Patnaik
At another meeting in Rairakhol, Pradhan targeted former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik, saying he had no problem with the protests and “go back” slogans raised by BJD workers.
Referring to the protest by BJD youth and student wing workers near the airport, he said, “I am a farmer’s son. Even if you ask me to go back, I will come back.”
“Naveen Babu also calls me a shame for the people of Odisha and a bad person,” Pradhan said, accusing the BJD president of involving youth in protests against him.
‘Never Embarrassed People With My Work’: Pradhan
Pradhan asked, “Have I ever done anything that would bring shame to the people of Odisha?” He added, “I may not be bringing glory to the state, but I have never brought shame to the people with my actions. I will never do anything that would bring disrepute to the state.”
Pradhan said he became a Union minister 12 years ago with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Sambalpur’s revered goddess Samaleswari. His remarks against Patnaik came from a platform where BJD MLA and deputy leader of the Odisha Assembly Prasanna Acharya was also present.