‘Nobody can ever dare to silence youth’: Priyanka Gandhi on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation

Wayanad: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday remarked that the youth of the country “cannot be silenced” by anybody.

Her reaction came soon after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the Union Education Minister, amid nationwide protests seeking accountability over exam irregularities.

Speaking to reporters in Kerala’s Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi said that she got a “little emotional” upon hearing the news.

“It is because, many times over the last 10 or 12 years, I have asked myself, ‘When are our young people going to wake up? Look at what is being done to our country.’ The RSS is filling the entire education system. Every post, every Vice-Chancellor, the ideology of our forefathers has been systematically broken down,” she added.

The Congress MP said: “Force has been used against young people, against anybody who raises their voice in protest. So today I am very happy that the youth of our country have spoken and nobody can ever dare to silence their voice.”

Earlier, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who were spearheading the students’ agitation, called Pradhan’s resignation a “victory for democracy”.

Significantly, the resignation of the Education Minister was one of the key demands of the massive student protests, staged following the May 3 NEET-UG paper leak.

Addressing reporters and the demonstrators, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said: “We have done it!…Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. What did they say, that resignations don’t happen under this government…we say that the world does bow down, it just needs the correct people to do so.”

Displaying a banner consisting of pictures of those students who committed suicide in the aftermath of the NEET paper leak, the CJP founder said: “This is for them, for all those students who lost their lives due to Dharmendra Pradhan.”

Taking to social media platform X, Sonam Wangchuk said: “IT’S A VICTORY OF DEMOCRACY. Direct democracy… straight from the streets. It’s a victory of peace, patience and perseverance. Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation, and thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation.”

“FROM ACCOUNTABILITY, NOW TO REFORMS,” he added.

IANS