Reddy Says Pradhan Quit to Shield Modi Amid NEET Scandal

Telangana’s chief minister, Revanth Reddy, took to the media on Sunday with a scathing tirade against the Centre, saying the government has stumbled badly on flagship examinations like the CBSE board exams and the NEET‑UG test.

“The Union has failed in a number of examinations,” Reddy said, his tone alternating between frustration and a weary sort of resignation. “The opposition, especially Rahul Gandhi, has been demanding the Education Minister’s resignation for weeks. And then, yesterday, Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down.” He added that the timing of the resignation, he believes, was no coincidence.

“When talk began about the Prime Minister having to go, the PM apparently thought it would be easier if Pradhan quit first,” Reddy asserted, pausing as if weighing his words. “So he asked the minister to go.”

Beyond the political drama, Reddy laid out three concrete demands that, according to him, echo the cries of the student community that has been taking to the streets over alleged paper‑leak scams:

• Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation (which, he noted, has already happened).
• The immediate withdrawal of all criminal cases lodged against students who protested the NEET irregularities.
• Compensation and assistance for families whose children lost their lives while waiting for the NEET results.

He also reminded listeners that Rahul Gandhi has asked for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that those three issues remain unresolved.

Speaking to ANI, the CM called for “stringent laws” to stop paper‑leak conspiracies and urged both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to stage a thorough, nation‑wide debate on how examinations are conducted. “We need reforms that protect merit, that protect the future of millions of youngsters,” he said, adding that the voices of the opposition, experts and other stakeholders must be heard.

Reddy warned that anyone entrusted with the responsibility of organising exams should face “severe consequences” if they falter. “If a mistake is made, the punishment should be strict, because the stakes are too high,” he emphasized, before concluding that a systematic, institutional approach is essential to safeguard meritocracy.

The background to his statements is the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday, after weeks of protests over a NEET‑UG paper‑leak scandal and broader claims of exam irregularities. Students have been demanding transparency, accountability and a complete overhaul of the examination system, while opposition parties have repeatedly sought adjournments in Parliament to discuss the issue.

Reddy’s remarks, though charged, reflect a growing frustration across several states that the central machinery is unable—or unwilling—to guarantee a fair and secure testing environment for India’s youth.