The Opposition, led by the Indian National Congress (Congress), on 9 August sharply rebuked former Union Education Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dharmendra Pradhan after he claimed that certain groups had tried to 'mislead' Gen Z during nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak controversy. Multiple opposition MPs demanded that Pradhan turn the lens on his own tenure instead.

What Pradhan Said

Speaking at an event at Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur on Saturday, Pradhan said: 'I believe that some people tried to mislead our Gen Z.' The remark drew swift and pointed criticism from across the opposition benches, with leaders arguing that the students' anger was the direct consequence of systemic failures under his watch.

Congress Fires Back

Congress MP Manoj Kumar challenged Pradhan with a series of pointed questions: 'Was the paper leak confirmed or not? Did the 20–22 lakh students who appeared for the examination suffer or not? Did dozens of students die by suicide or not? Who misled them?' He added that students are 'the future of the nation' and are 'totally aware about the happenings in the country and are not misled.'

Congress MP Manish Tewari called on Pradhan to 'self-introspect in order to realise why such a big student movement took place in the country,' asking him to reflect on the shortcomings of his tenure. 'The NEET paper leak became a reflection of the fact that India's education system has become completely helpless,' Tewari said. 'Congress MP Pramod Tiwari added that Pradhan 'still seems to be living in another world,' alleging that during his tenure 'question papers were leaked after taking money' and that the education system's independence was undermined.

Left and Shiv Sena UBT Join the Chorus

CPI-M MP V. Sivadasan said Pradhan's understanding of the student movement is 'completely wrong,' noting that the former minister 'lost his position because of the struggle of the student community' and that the government oversaw more than 50 re-examinations due to repeated paper leaks. CPI-M leader Hannan Mollah went further, saying Pradhan 'is responsible for the student suicides and for destroying the futures of many others' and was 'forced to resign by the public.'

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also addressed reporters, saying: 'If Gen Z was provoked, then you are the ones who provoked them. (The protest) is a result of the way you have run the Education Ministry, NEET paper leaks happened, exams were repeatedly postponed, so you are responsible for all this.'

The Jharkhand Contrast

Congress MP Manoj Kumar also drew attention to the handling of a parallel student agitation in Jharkhand, where he said multiple rounds of talks between the state government and students had already taken place. 'Why did the Centre not do that here (in Delhi)?' he asked, suggesting the Union government's response to student protests lacked the same willingness to engage.

What Comes Next

The NEET paper leak controversy has already cost Pradhan his cabinet position and triggered a broader national debate on the integrity of India's competitive examination system. With opposition parties continuing to press the issue, the political fallout shows no signs of abating — and the demand for institutional accountability in education is likely to remain a flashpoint heading into the next legislative session.