Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday, 21 July launched a sharp attack on the Central Government over the forcible hospitalisation of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and a violent lathi-charge on protesting students, demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Thackeray's Remarks on X

Taking to social media platform X, Thackeray condemned what he described as the government's heavy-handed response to peaceful demonstrators. “This government itself has become mentally ill and needs to be admitted to a hospital,” he posted, in a pointed reference to the reported forcible admission of Wangchuk to a medical facility.

The MNS chief alleged that the Centre had picked up Wangchuk against his will and that the lathi-charge on student protesters reflected an administration that “took pride in crushing legitimate protests.”

Demand for Education Minister's Resignation

Thackeray reiterated his call for Dharmendra Pradhan to step down, questioning why the government treated the minister's continuation as a matter of prestige. “Who is Dharmendra Pradhan that accepting his resignation feels like a failure to the government? The outrage of the nation's students is far more important than the ego of Dharmendra Pradhan and the government,” he said.

He also questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi — known for his annual ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ initiative engaging students on exam stress — had not stepped out to directly address the agitating students.

Historical Parallels and Broader Discontent

Drawing on historical precedents, Thackeray cited the Arab Spring (2011), the Sri Lankan political crisis (2022), anti-government protests in Nepal, and Jayaprakash Narayan's ‘Sampoorna Kranti’ (Total Revolution) movement in India to argue that student-led unrest has repeatedly triggered seismic political shifts.

“This movement isn't restricted to just one exam. It is an outburst of public despair against inflation, contract culture, suffocating urban development, and broader governance failures,” he said. Notably, his framing positions the ongoing student protests not as a narrow grievance over examination irregularities but as a symptom of deeper systemic frustration.

MNS Stance on NEET and Centralised Exams

Reaffirming MNS's opposition to centralised entrance examinations such as NEET, Thackeray urged the administration to pursue dialogue over force. “An incompetent minister must resign, and complete transparency must be brought into examinations. There is no bravery in ruthlessly crushing protests; true wisdom lies in resolving them through dialogue. MNS extends its full support to these students and their demands,” he said.

He also alleged that the ruling party had developed an “arrogant mindset,” claiming it believed its electoral victories were owed to central agencies and electronic voting machines rather than public mandate — an allegation the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently denied.

What Comes Next

With student protests over the NEET controversy showing no signs of abating, pressure on the Centre is likely to mount further. Whether the government moves toward dialogue or continues its current approach will determine the political trajectory of the agitation in the weeks ahead.