NEET uproar: J&K leaders hail Pradhan’s exit as student victory

When Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down last Saturday, the news rippled through campuses across the country. In the snow‑capped valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, the reaction was almost immediate – a blend of relief, pride and a hint of triumph.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, speaking on Sunday, said the students had proved “there is no place for arrogance”. He went on, “Our young people took to the streets, fought for their rights and showed that a new India is being forged, one that respects the Constitution.” Abdullah added that while the victory was sweet, “the battle against draconian laws that punish students, teachers and even their families is far from over.”

Across the aisle, PDP legislator Waheed‑ur‑Rehman Parra echoed the sentiment, dubbing the resignation “a victory of democracy”. “Our youth have not only reclaimed their voice, they have also set aside old communal divides and stood together for exams, jobs and education,” he said, his tone mixing admiration with a call for unity.

The backdrop to these statements was a months‑long storm of protests sparked by a leaked NEET‑UG 2026 examination paper. Thousands of students marched in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and even the remote hills of Kashmir, demanding accountability and an end to what they called “authoritarian” educational policies.

Pradhan’s departure is being hailed as more than a political footnote; it is being treated as a litmus test for the power of student activism in India. As Abdullah put it, “If we truly want to safeguard India’s independence and democracy, we must scrap such draconian statutes.”

While the immediate celebration is evident, leaders from both sides agree that the fight is only beginning. They urge the Centre to rethink admission policies, strengthen transparency in competitive exams and, most importantly, listen to the voices that surged from college grounds to Parliament.