New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh minister and BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has claimed that former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had offered to resign on the very first day of the student agitation over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak. According to Vijayvargiya, the BJP leadership asked Pradhan to continue in office until the party took a final decision on the matter.

Pradhan resigned on Saturday, following which the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced the withdrawal of its 36-day agitation over the alleged examination irregularities.

Vijayvargiya reveals resignation offer

Speaking to reporters in Indore on Saturday, Vijayvargiya said Dharmendra Pradhan had expressed his willingness to step down as Education Minister as soon as the student protests began.

According to him, Pradhan informed the BJP president that he was prepared to resign if the party believed it was necessary.

Vijayvargiya said the party leadership, however, asked him not to resign immediately, stating that no decision had been taken at that stage. He added that Pradhan was instructed neither to submit his resignation nor discuss the matter publicly until the party reached a conclusion.

He further claimed that Pradhan resigned immediately after the BJP leadership later decided that he should step down.

Praises Pradhan’s conduct

Vijayvargiya praised the former minister, saying he had discharged every responsibility entrusted to him with honesty and dedication.

He also claimed that Pradhan’s resignation had thwarted the designs of “foreign forces” that allegedly wanted to destabilise India by provoking unrest similar to developments seen in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The BJP leader congratulated Pradhan for his decision and described it as being in the larger interest of the country.

Criticises Congress

Reacting to the Congress party’s celebration following Pradhan’s resignation, Vijayvargiya said the Opposition had little role in the student movement.

Using a Hindi proverb, he remarked that the Congress was “beating drums over the birth of a child in a neighbour’s house,” implying that it was claiming credit for an agitation led by students.

He maintained that the protests were initiated by students and that the Congress only extended political support after the movement had gained momentum.

Vijayvargiya also claimed that after the West Bengal Assembly election, the Opposition had become politically demoralised and later viewed the Cockroach Janta Party as a source of renewed political momentum.

He questioned whether any Congress leader had personally faced police action during the course of the student agitation.

Responds to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks

Vijayvargiya also responded to Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s recent criticism of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the RSS had acted like “termites” and hollowed out India’s education system.

Rejecting the allegation, Vijayvargiya said he felt sorry for Rahul Gandhi’s political thinking and understanding of the RSS.

He added that Rahul Gandhi still needed to understand the organisation better and asserted that the country was progressing in the right direction, crediting the RSS for its contribution to national development.

Political debate continues

Pradhan’s resignation has intensified political exchanges between the BJP and the Opposition, with both sides offering contrasting narratives over the student agitation and its outcome. While the BJP maintains that the resignation was a decision taken by the party leadership, Opposition parties continue to describe it as a consequence of sustained public pressure over the examination controversy.