New Delhi: BJP leaders acknowledged Dharmedra Pradhan’s contributions after he resigned as Union education minister on Saturday, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju describing his journey as a “testament” to lifelong engagement with public life and student welfare.
Several other Union ministers, including Jitendra Singh, Piyush Goyal, Virendra Kumar, Giriraj Singh and G Kishan Reddy, also lauded Pradhan’s contributions, saying his tenure reflected a strong commitment to strengthening the education ecosystem.
BJP president Nitin Nabin said that Pradhan, as a Union education minister, played a “pivotal role” in reforming India’s education landscape and successfully implementing the “landmark” National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, among other initiatives.
“Prioritising larger interests, his decision to step down reflects the highest standards of integrity and selfless service in public life. The party stands firmly with Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Ji in this decision,” Nabin said in a post on X.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said Pradhan’s tenure as the education minister reflected a strong commitment to strengthening the education ecosystem, guided by “conviction, energy and a clear sense of purpose”.
He said Pradhan navigated the complexities of educational leadership while keeping students at the centre.
“As Dharmendra Pradhan steps down as India’s education minister, it is a moment to acknowledge his deep and enduring connect with students and public life. Few leaders have remained so closely aligned with the aspirations and concerns of young India,” Singh said in a post on X.
“As he moves ahead, he leaves behind an important and evolving conversation on the future of education in India,” he added.
In a post on X, Rijiju said true leadership is measured over decades, and Pradhan’s journey stands as a testament to lifelong engagement with public life and student welfare.
“Having worked alongside him in the Union Cabinet, I have seen his sincere dedication to strengthening India’s education ecosystem and keeping our millions of young students at the centre of every decision. Leading such a critical sector demands immense perseverance, and he embraced it with courage and clear vision,” the parliamentary affairs minister said on X.
Rijiju also posted a picture of him with Pradhan from a past event.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal said Pradhan has consistently demonstrated commitment, discipline and a “deep connect” with the people, especially with the aspirations of India’s youth, from his early association with student movements to his distinguished roles in public life and governance.
“Education reform is never a short-term exercise. It requires persistence, consultation and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of learning. Pradhan ji brought those qualities to the ministry with dedication and purpose,” he said.
Over the years, Pradhan has served the nation in several important capacities, handling diverse responsibilities with sincerity, energy and a strong sense of purpose, Goyal added.
BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde said a strong nation is defined by its education system, and Pradhan has always accorded the utmost importance to this idea throughout his public life.
Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday following Cockroach Janta Party-led student protests across the country for his ouster over the NEET paper leak issue.
Tawde said Pradhan’s journey in public life, which began with student movements, reached a significant milestone when he assumed the role of the country’s education minister.
“During this tenure, he consistently endeavoured to keep the importance of education at the forefront of national discourse,” the BJP Rajya Sabha member said.
“I extend my best wishes for your future endeavours in public life and hope that your spirit of ‘Nation First’ remains steadfast in the pursuit of the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ (Developed India 2047),” Tawde added.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, terming Pradhan’s exit as an unprecedented and empathetic gesture toward the gen Z and the nation’s youth.
He insisted that the resignation reflects the ruling party’s commitment to standing by students during critical times.
“The sensitivity, responsibility and direct connection shown towards students is truly remarkable, something unprecedented in our country,” Tiwari said, adding: “There is a clear emotion to go to any length to safeguard the interests of our students and gen Z.”
