Priyanka Gandhi slams BJP MPs for felicitating Dharmendra Pradhan after resignation

Congress leader calls the reception "shameful" amid ongoing student protests

Published: July 28, 2026 03:39 pm IST – New Delhi Source: PTI

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) condemned BJP MPs for welcoming former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the Parliament premises "as if he were a superstar," following his resignation amid widespread student protests.

Key Developments

• Priyanka Gandhi's remarks: "Don't you think it is shameful? Everyone saw the circumstances under which Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, but yesterday in the Parliament premises, he was welcomed as if he were a superstar!"
• Opposition protests: MPs raised slogans including "Chor, chor, paper chor" against the ruling party for felicitating Mr. Pradhan.
• BJP's reception: Two days after his resignation, Mr. Pradhan was greeted by party colleagues with a traditional cap and stole, accompanied by chants of "Pradhan Zindabad."

Priyanka Gandhi's Full Statement

Ms. Gandhi criticized the government's handling of the student crisis, stating:

"No one can trust the PM Modi government, because even today, students are being harassed. I saw some Instagram handles with photographs of women alleging that they did such and such a thing. Do you want to engage in talks to resolve this matter or are you still after the students, wanting to suppress them? This is wrong."

She further asserted that Mr. Pradhan resigned not out of moral conscience, but out of fear of youth outrage.

Rahul Gandhi's Response

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the reception. In a Hindi post on X on Monday (July 27), he wrote:

"Dharmendra Pradhan is — and will always remain — a symbol of corruption and India's ruined education system. That very system claimed the lives of 26 children and forced lakhs of youths to take to the streets."

He added:

"And today, the BJP is garlanding that very same person in Parliament. This is not an honour; it is a celebration of the ruined futures of lakhs of children. Every student in the country is watching this, and will remember every face involved."

Background

Mr. Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on July 25, 2026, following large-scale student protests. The Congress party had earlier called on Prime Minister Modi to dismiss Mr. Pradhan before the start of the Parliament session.