Akhilesh Yadav likens Delhi protest police action to Emergency, says Pradhan's exit saved PM Modi

Former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation reflects pressure from student agitation; government forced to abandon 'arrogance,' SP leader claims

Published: July 28, 2026 10:02 pm IST | Source: The Hindu Bureau, New Delhi

Samajwadi Party (SP) president and MP Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) compared the police action against students protesting the NEET-UG paper leak to the Emergency, asserting that the Narendra Modi government had been compelled to yield to an unprecedented student movement.

Speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Mr. Yadav said the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was a direct result of the pressure generated by the student agitation.

"By removing one 'Pradhan', you effectively saved the 'Pradhan Mantri'," the SP leader remarked, adding that the government had abandoned its "arrogance" after students forced it to accept their demands.

Key Allegations

• Police brutality: Mr. Yadav alleged that police used "lathis with spikes, and electric batons" against students, describing the scenes in Delhi as "reminiscent of the Emergency."
• Parental support: He called the NEET-UG protests the first student agitation to receive active backing from parents, leaving the government "rattled" with no option but to bow before protesters.

Exchange with Minister Kiren Rijiju

When Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju countered that a government responding to protests was preferable to one imposing the Emergency, Mr. Yadav replied that while he had not witnessed the Emergency, "we have seen echoes of it in the national capital."

Criticism of the Amendment Bill

Mr. Yadav questioned the effectiveness of the proposed amendments, arguing that examination paper leaks had continued despite existing laws. He also took a swipe at the government over the outsourcing of the National Testing Agency, warning that the Opposition feared "the entire government could be outsourced."

Additional Remarks

During the debate, the SP chief also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue of chadhawa chori (donation theft) at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Also read:

• Public examinations amendment Bill does not address fundamental issues: AISEC
• Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026: What does the proposed anti-cheating law promise?
• Dharmendra Pradhan in the eye of the storm