Targeting the Congress over its protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, Dharmendra Pradhan alleged the Opposition chose disruption over democratic discussion despite the Centre’s willingness to debate NEET.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party of politicising the NEET issue and using students as “political tools” to disrupt the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
In a post on X, Mr Pradhan alleged that the Leader of the Opposition and the Congress had chosen confrontation over constructive debate despite the Centre expressing its willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion on NEET in Parliament.
“LoP Shri Rahul Gandhi and the Congress continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament,” the minister said.
Mr Pradhan also criticised the Congress for staging a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, alleging that the protest inconvenienced the public and disregarded established security protocols.
LoP Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia chose to stage a dharna outside the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s residence , causing…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 21, 2026
According to the minister, the government had already conveyed its readiness to discuss the NEET issue in detail on the floor of the House. However, he claimed that the Congress preferred “political spectacle over democratic debate”, with the intention of creating disruption rather than finding solutions for students.
The Union minister further alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s campaign was aimed at manufacturing confrontation even after “every genuine avenue for discussion” had been opened.
Reiterating the government’s position, Mr Pradhan said the Centre remained “100 per cent committed” to discussing NEET and addressing the legitimate concerns of students through Parliament.
“The students of India deserve far better than being treated as props in a political campaign. They deserve certainty over chaos, solutions over slogans and responsibility over disruption,” he said.
Stressing the government’s commitment to education reforms, Mr Pradhan added that students deserved “answers, reforms and accountability”, and asserted that the government remained committed to delivering all three.
