Centre Reportedly Proposed Portfolio Change for Dharmendra Pradhan, CJP Insisted on Resignation
New Delhi: Amid the nationwide protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Centre initially suggested transferring him to another ministry instead of removing him from the Cabinet, according to sources.
The proposal was reportedly conveyed during negotiations between Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh and CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Their first meeting took place on July 20 at JP Nadda’s residence while police were carrying out a crackdown on protesters participating in the Parliament march.
Sources said the Centre hoped that shifting Pradhan to a different portfolio would help end the standoff. However, the CJP firmly rejected the proposal, maintaining that only his resignation would satisfy the protesters.
The negotiating team believed accepting anything less than a resignation would provoke strong opposition from those participating in the movement. They also emphasized that the Prime Minister alone has the authority to decide on ministerial appointments and portfolio changes.
Dharmendra Pradhan eventually resigned as Education Minister on Saturday, just hours before the third round of discussions between the government and CJP leaders. Following his resignation, the CJP officially withdrew its protest.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had also opposed the idea of merely changing Pradhan’s portfolio, arguing that his removal from the government was necessary. He described Pradhan as a symbol of the failures in India’s education system and insisted that students and the Opposition would not accept anything short of his resignation.
In his resignation letter, Pradhan stated that he stepped down to prevent anti-national forces from exploiting the unrest over examination paper leaks. He said his decision was aimed at protecting national unity, ensuring students’ futures were not affected by prolonged disputes, and allowing them to focus on their education without uncertainty.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
