Revanth Reddy praises youth’s stand that led to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, branding it a defeat for Modi’s government

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy could hardly hide his satisfaction. He said the streets were alive with young voices, and those voices finally made Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hand in his resignation.

“The youth got up, marched, and demanded accountability for the NEET‑UG paper leak,” Reddy told ANI. “From the sidewalks of Delhi to the corridors of Parliament, they fought and, in our eyes, defeated Modiji’s attempts to silence them.”

Reddy didn’t stop at praising the protests. He leveled a broader criticism at the centre, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using investigative agencies – the Enforcement Directorate, the Income‑Tax department and the CBI – as tools to intimidate opposition leaders. He also claimed the PM was trying to fracture regional parties in West Bengal, Delhi and Maharashtra.

“Whenever farmers and the youth begin to push back, any government has to accept defeat,” he said, adding that the recent events were a clear example of that rule in action.

The resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan came after weeks of agitation over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Students, backed by a coalition of opposition parties and the newly‑formed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanded a transparent probe, stricter exam safeguards and, ultimately, Pradhan’s removal.

In a brief statement, Pradhan said he had submitted his resignation to the prime minister “in the interest of the students” and to prevent the issue from being hijacked by “anti‑national forces.” His departure was hailed by protestors as a victory, and by opposition leaders as a sign that persistent street pressure can still shake the highest echelons of power.

Union Minister J.P. Nadda, appearing later in the week, said the government had taken note of the CJP’s five‑point charter on examination reforms. He promised a “careful examination” of the proposals and pledged to share FIR copies with the aggrieved parties, assuring that no retaliatory action would be taken.

On the legislative front, another development is on the horizon. Union Minister Jitendra Singh is slated to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The bill aims to tighten penalties for paper leaks, set up fast‑track courts for related offences and impose strict timelines for investigations and trials.

Reddy underscored that reforms must go beyond a single minister’s exit. “We need a systemic overhaul of the education and examination systems,” he said. “Parliament – both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – should debate expert recommendations, hold those responsible accountable and ensure that any future malpractice meets a severe punishment. The future of millions of students is at stake.”

While the immediate political fallout seems clear – Pradhan is out, and the youth can claim a win – the longer‑term impact on the Modi government remains to be seen. Reddy’s remarks suggest a belief that the episode could embolden opposition forces across the country, especially as elections loom on the horizon.

For now, the streets of Delhi have quieted, but the echo of student chants and rally cries still reverberates in the corridors of power. Whether that resonance translates into deeper changes or merely a brief pause in the status quo, only time will tell.