Former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has stated he offered his resignation amidst public outcry, alleging that “some individuals misled Gen Z” during the recent protests.
Below is a compilation of significant headlines from India, current as of Sunday, August 9:
To ensure you don’t miss our real-time updates, click here to designate us as a Preferred Source on Google. Subsequently, tap the “Star” or “Preferred” icon to prioritize DW News in your feed.
Pradhan Attributes Protests to ‘Misled’ Gen Z
Dharmendra Pradhan, the former Education Minister, has made his first public statement since his resignation following widespread youth protests.
During a ceremony on Saturday, Pradhan remarked, “Gen Z constitutes our younger demographic. Certain parties deliberately misinformed them.”
Pradhan’s acknowledgment of the protests and his subsequent resignation comes approximately two weeks after he stepped down from his ministerial post.
Pradhan conveyed that he “endured hardship” due to the perceived obstinacy of Gen Z but has since concluded that this generation necessitates understanding rather than opposition.
Regarding his departure, Pradhan disclosed that he personally approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tender his resignation from the Union Council of Ministers.
“The position held no paramount importance to me,” Pradhan asserted to attendees at an event at GM University in Bhubaneswar, as reported by the Indian news agency Press Trust of India.
The resignation of Pradhan was the primary demand articulated by the young protestors, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The catalyst for these protests was alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, particularly the NEET exam, which is a mandatory prerequisite for admission to medical schools across India.
It has been reported that a minimum of 21 students tragically ended their lives after the NEET exam was initially canceled due to a question paper leak, leading to its rescheduling for a later date.
Initiating Our Live Coverage
Greetings! This is Midhat from the New Delhi bureau, delivering the latest developments from across India.
Dharmendra Pradhan, who resigned under significant public pressure following extensive youth protests, has finally spoken. He contended that Gen Z, who spearheaded the protest movement concerning examination irregularities, was misinformed during the demonstrations.
Concurrently, after considerable discussion and uncertainty regarding a potential charge on app-based instant digital payments, the Indian government has clarified that consumers will not incur fees for such transactions; only merchants will be subject to a “nominal” charge.
On the international stage, US Vice President JD Vance engaged in a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss enhancing collaboration between India and the United States on matters of trade, defense, and energy security.
Stay connected for further updates from India.
