Rahul Gandhi Calls for Government Change Following Pradhan's Resignation

New Delhi, India Jul 25, 2026 ALN: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as "a huge step towards rebuilding our education system," while congratulating students across the country for sustaining protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.

Sharing a video on X, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the resignation marked an important victory for students who had "stood firm to protect democracy, the Constitution, and their future," adding that "the time has come to remove this government."

"Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is a huge step towards reshaping our education system. Well done to students across the country; we are proud of all of you. Heartiest congratulations to every young person, every student who took to the streets and stood firm to protect democracy, the Constitution, and their future," he wrote.

Gandhi noted that the movement's objectives had not yet been fully achieved, adding that two key demands remained.

"Two demands still remain - the Prime Minister should apologize while respecting the students and India's future, and action should be taken against those guilty of violence against students," he said.

He also stated that Pradhan's resignation should encourage other sections of society to continue raising their voices through constitutional means.

"For other sections of society—farmers, laborers, the poor, every person whom this government has suppressed and crushed—true courage lies in standing firm in a constitutional manner for one's dignity. The time has come to remove this government. Don't be afraid!" Gandhi wrote.

'Victory for students, but not the end'

Meanwhile, the Congress on Saturday called Pradhan's resignation a victory for the students who maintained sustained pressure on the government, but emphasized that this was not the end as the Prime Minister is yet to apologize to the students.

The opposition party labeled it a victory for a generation tired of struggling in an "unfair and corrupt" system, and for an opposition that demonstrated rock-solid unity and solidarity with the students.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stated that Pradhan's resignation was a "victory of truth" and a defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "stubbornness."

He also asserted that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's turn to apologize and take strict action against all those who used lathis, batons, and pellet guns against the agitating students.

In his first reaction after Pradhan resigned, Kharge said, "The echo of India's students has finally reached the doors of the arrogant power."

"This is the victory of our millions of youth who raised their voices on the streets across the country to fix the education system... This is the victory of truth and the defeat of Mr Modi's stubbornness," he said.

Kharge also termed it a victory for families who lost "their blood, their children" because of the government's "corruption."

"This is the victory of the united opposition, who raised their voices from Parliament to the streets in the interest of the students.

"Now it is Mr Modi's turn to apologize to our young generation and to take strict action against those who unleashed lathis, batons, and pellet guns on them," Kharge said.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra welcomed the resignation of Pradhan, stating that the government had been "forced to bend" before the youth and students of India.

Vadra termed the development a victory for the country's youth and students, "who did not bend."

"Force was used against them. Pellet guns, water cannons, and tear gas were used against them. But the youth and the students did not bend; the government had to bend. It is a victory for the youth and students of India. I was really and truly happy when I heard the news," she told reporters in Wayanad, following reports of Pradhan's resignation.

Priyanka expressed her emotional response, reflecting on her long-standing hope that young people would awaken to the challenges facing the country.

"I am so happy today that the young people of India, the students, have fought this battle bravely and have won it," Vadra said with a smile.

She noted that the country's students had begun taking matters into their own hands and demonstrated that "if you stand up for what is right, every right-thinking Indian, everyone who believes in the Constitution, everyone who respects the freedom struggle, will stand by you."

The Congress MP asserted that the students had shown that if one stood against all odds in the way Mahatma Gandhi did - "non-violently, truthfully, with courage in your hearts" - they would prevail, no matter who they were up against.

Congress general secretary, in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh stated, "This is not the end. We still await the Prime Minister's apology to our students."

He reiterated the demand for accountability from those who perpetrated atrocities on the students, including the use of pellet guns on protestors.

"The incompetent, callous, and arrogant Mantri Pradhan has finally been compelled to resign. It was sustained youth pressure that finally forced the Pradhan Mantri to stop giving him political cover. This is a victory for a generation that is tired of struggling in an unfair and corrupt system, and an Opposition that has demonstrated rock-solid unity and solidarity with the students," the Congress leader said.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday afternoon following Cockroach Janta Party-led student protests across the country for his ouster over the NEET paper leak issue.

Pradhan stated that it is not a matter of "individual prestige" for him and expressed disturbance over the series of events that have unfolded in the last 10 days.

"I took responsibility for the NEET paper leak from day one," he said, adding that anti-national forces should not be allowed to take advantage of the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country.