Dharmendra Pradhan, who resigned as Education Minister on Saturday, had twice offered to step down during the student protests over the NEET paper leak row, but the government rejected both offers, choosing instead to focus on systemic issues and education reforms, sources told India Today TV.
Sources said that at a high-level meeting of senior ministers on July 20, Pradhan again offered to step down. His resignation was once again declined, with the leadership asking him to continue spearheading reforms in the education sector.
Government sources said the view within the leadership was that “a minister’s resignation is the easiest option — it is like walking away from responsibility. The Modi government believes in fixing problems rather than running away from them.”
So, What Changed?
According to sources, the government’s assessment shifted after the second round of talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), when the outfit threatened to launch another large-scale march similar to the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest.
The government was already concerned after several students were injured due to police action during the July 20 demonstration. Security agencies had also submitted reports warning that anti-national elements were attempting to exploit the unrest.
Sources said digital monitoring detected more than 400 social media accounts, including around 100 Instagram accounts allegedly operated from Pakistan, actively amplifying the students’ protests in India.
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Preliminary analysis suggested that several of these accounts had earlier been active during Operation Sindoor, allegedly spreading anti-India narratives, misinformation and propaganda targeting Indian security forces.
Delhi Police’s Facial Recognition System also identified around 400 people with criminal records in and around the Jantar Mantar protest site between July 20 and July 24, with some suspects also linked to the July 20 vandalism, sources said.
According to sources, ahead of the final round of talks with the CJP, the government concluded that national interest and maintaining public order had to take precedence.
To help defuse tensions around Jantar Mantar and prevent a further escalation of the protests, Pradhan then decided to resign, and President Droupadi Murmu ultimately accepted his resignation. Hours later, Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of the Education Ministry.