Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday greeting to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, viewed by many as a vote of confidence amid mounting criticism over examination controversies, has failed to quell speculation over Pradhan's political future as reports of an imminent cabinet reshuffle continue to gather pace.
On Friday, Modi wished Pradhan on his birthday, praising his role in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). In a post on X, the Prime Minister said Pradhan is making "commendable efforts" to transform India into a global hub for knowledge, learning and innovation through the NEP.
Pradhan thanked the Prime Minister for his wishes, expressing gratitude and describing Modi's leadership as a source of inspiration. He said the Prime Minister's vision and commitment to nation-building motivated him to continue serving the country.
The Prime Minister's message came at a time when the Opposition and several student groups had intensified demands for Pradhan's resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak and a series of examination-related irregularities. The birthday greeting was widely interpreted in political circles as a sign that Modi continued to back the education minister despite the controversy.
However, BJP leaders sought to downplay such interpretations, saying birthday greetings from the Prime Minister should not be viewed as an indication of a minister's position in the government. Party leaders maintained that Modi routinely extends similar wishes to ministers on their birthdays, regardless of ongoing political developments.
Meanwhile, speculation over a possible cabinet reshuffle has continued, with Pradhan's name featuring prominently in discussions over whether he could be dropped from the Union Cabinet.
The Congress stepped up its attack on the government, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi questioning the Prime Minister's decision to praise Pradhan while families affected by the alleged examination irregularities continued to seek accountability. Responding to a post by Congress leader Pawan Khera listing students whose deaths the party linked to the exam controversy, Rahul Gandhi said each student represented a dream and a future lost because of what he described as a broken system.
Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad also criticised the Prime Minister's remarks, using sarcasm to target the education minister over repeated allegations of paper leaks.
Separately, Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke announced a nationwide campaign demanding Pradhan's resignation and called on students, farmers and civil society organisations to join a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Dipke said activist Sonam Wangchuk would participate in the campaign and begin an indefinite fast. He also urged the government to ensure accountability for the examination controversies and demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide. |
