Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya claimed that Dharmendra Pradhan had offered to resign as Education Minister before the first day of the student protest was over.
Indore , (Economy India): Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Saturday claimed that then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had offered to resign from his ministerial position before the student agitation in Delhi had even completed its first day.
Speaking to reporters in Indore, Vijayvargiya praised Pradhan and said that he has always carried out every responsibility assigned to him with honesty, dedication and commitment.
Pradhan Had Offered to Resign Amid Student Protest, Says Vijayvargiya
Vijayvargiya claimed that as soon as the student agitation began, Pradhan had approached the BJP leadership and offered to step down as Education Minister if the party felt that his resignation was necessary.
According to Vijayvargiya, the BJP president had advised Pradhan not to resign at that stage and told him that he should wait until a final decision was taken on the matter. He also claimed that Pradhan was asked not to discuss the issue of resignation with anyone until the party took a decision.
The Madhya Pradesh minister said that when the party later decided that Pradhan should resign due to the prevailing circumstances, he immediately submitted his resignation.
‘Pradhan’s Resignation Foiled Plans to Destabilise India’
Vijayvargiya also made a strong political claim while praising Pradhan’s decision. He alleged that certain foreign forces were attempting to create violence and instability in India along the lines of developments witnessed in countries such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
He said that Pradhan’s resignation helped defeat such alleged plans and praised the former Education Minister for his role.
“I congratulate Pradhan for the work he has done,” Vijayvargiya said, according to the report.
The allegations regarding foreign forces and attempts to destabilise India could not be independently verified based on the information available in the report.
Vijayvargiya Takes a Dig at Congress
Vijayvargiya also criticised Congress leaders over their reported celebrations following Pradhan’s resignation.
Taking a sarcastic swipe at the opposition party, he said, “Congress is beating the drum because a child has been born at the neighbour’s house.”
He questioned the Congress party’s role in the student movement and alleged that the students had launched the protest on their own, while Congress leaders later stood behind them.
Vijayvargiya further claimed that the opposition had become disappointed after the West Bengal Assembly elections and was now looking for a ray of hope.
He also challenged Congress leaders to explain whether any of them had faced police action or been hit by even a single police baton during the student agitation.
Rahul Gandhi’s RSS Remark Draws Counterattack
The Madhya Pradesh minister also responded to remarks by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who had accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of working like termites and weakening India’s education system from within.
Reacting sharply to Gandhi’s remarks, Vijayvargiya criticised the Congress leader’s political understanding and said that he needed to understand what the RSS actually was.
Vijayvargiya said that India was moving in the right direction and attributed the country’s progress, in part, to the long-standing efforts of the RSS.
Political Debate Intensifies
Vijayvargiya’s remarks come amid a wider political debate surrounding the student agitation, the education system and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. While BJP leaders have defended Pradhan and highlighted his contribution, opposition parties have continued to raise questions over the government’s handling of issues related to students and education.
The claim that Pradhan had offered to resign on the very first day of the student protest is likely to become another point of political debate between the ruling party and the opposition. Further clarification from Pradhan or the BJP leadership could provide more details about the circumstances surrounding the reported resignation offer.
(Economy India)
