Former Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday, 11 August launched a pointed attack on the Indian National Congress, accusing the opposition party of practising 'selective democracy' — using force against students in states it governs while stoking disruption elsewhere for political gain. The remarks came in the backdrop of reported police action against students in Jharkhand, a Congress-led state.

Pradhan's Charge on X

Taking to social media platform X, Pradhan alleged that Congress has been systematically misleading students and circulating falsehoods. 'Congress is continuously spreading lies regarding students' interests; Rahul Gandhi lacks facts, and the Leader of Opposition, who habitually lies, neither wants to come to Parliament nor listen to answers. They just want to spread their lies and shed crocodile tears,' he wrote in his post.

Pradhan further accused Congress of levelling what he called baseless allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 'Making baseless, factless false accusations against the Honorable Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji reveals the political desperation of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. The government is ready for discussion in Parliament on every issue, but Congress is obstructing the temple of democracy 'Parliament House' and crushing the interests of the country and the youth,' he said.

The Jharkhand Student Crackdown

Pradhan drew pointed attention to what he described as 'brutality against students in Jharkhand,' which he said 'has been witnessed by the entire country.' He questioned why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who routinely addresses press conferences on national issues, had chosen silence on this particular episode. 'The youth of the country have fully understood this duplicitous character of the Congress,' Pradhan said, adding that there is 'no place for dictatorship in democracy.'

He also accused Congress of operating with what he called an 'Emergency era mindset,' a historically charged reference to the 1975–77 period of authoritarian rule under the Congress government. This framing is a recurring Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attack line against the Gandhi family's political legacy.

Context: Pradhan's Resignation and NEET Row

Pradhan's remarks carry added weight given his recent political trajectory. On 9 August, he had broken his silence over his resignation as Education Minister, saying he had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address student grievances arising from the NEET examination controversy. He stressed that 'nothing is above the nation's interest.'

Speaking at events in Sambalpur and Rairakhol on 8 August, Pradhan acknowledged that some actors had attempted to 'mislead' the younger generation during the protests, but maintained he held no personal stake in retaining the ministerial portfolio. 'Gen Z is our children. Some people attempted to mislead them. I had no personal issues then,' he said.

Broader Stakes for Youth Politics

Pradhan noted that approximately two crore children are born in India every year, arguing that the aspirations of this generation are central to India's ambition of becoming a 'Vishwa Guru' — a global knowledge leader. The BJP's framing positions the party as the guardian of youth interests, a narrative it has leaned on heavily since the NEET controversy erupted earlier this year.

With Parliament sessions marked by repeated disruptions and the NEET row still politically live, the exchange signals that student welfare is set to remain a flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the Congress-led opposition in the months ahead.