Uttarakhand BJP Chief Issues Apology After Controversial Remarks on Students

Uttarakhand’s state president of the BJP, Mahendra Bhatt, took to social media on Sunday to say he was sorry for words that had sparked a fresh controversy. In a short video, he told followers that if his statement yesterday had unintentionally hurt anyone’s feelings, he “regrets it and offers my apologies.”

The apology came after a clip of Bhatt’s remarks surfaced online, prompting the Congress and several youth groups to accuse him of insulting thousands of students who have been rallying against alleged irregularities in the recent NEET exam. The party demanded an unconditional apology and warned of a possible sit‑in protest outside Bhatt’s residence if he failed to comply.

Congress leader Ganesh Godiyal, who heads the state unit, said Bhatt’s comments reflected frustration over the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan – a resignation that followed a high‑profile paper‑leak scandal involving Uttarakhand Technical University. “This shows your attitude towards students and the people here. You should apologise before the matter escalates further,” Godiyal told reporters.

Bhatt, for his part, insisted the video had been edited and that he never used the vulgar language that opponents were attributing to him. BJP’s state media in‑charge Manveer Singh Chauhan echoed this, claiming the opposition was cherry‑picking snippets to create a political storm.

The row unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tension over alleged exam misconduct. In recent weeks, a case alleging a leak of the NEET question paper has been making headlines, and the state government has repeatedly stressed its zero‑tolerance stance, pointing to a new anti‑cheating law and recent arrests of suspected culprits.

Meanwhile, the Congress has not shied away from pressing the Pushkar Singh Dhami‑led administration on a slew of other alleged irregularities, ranging from recruitment exams to the handling of the Pradhan resignation. As the political heat builds, students remain at the centre of the debate, demanding transparency and accountability.

Whether Bhatt’s apology will soothe the anger of the protesting youth or simply add another chapter to an already volatile political season remains to be seen.