1997 vs 2026: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Once Led Protest Over Paper Leak in Odisha".

THE REPORT.

New Delhi:As calls grow for his resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, Union Education Minister *Dharmendra Pradhan’s* past as a student activist has resurfaced, drawing sharp comparisons online.

According to reports, in 1997, Pradhan led a major student protest in Odisha against an alleged exam paper leak. During a march to the state secretariat, he was reportedly injured in a police lathi charge.

The 1997 Protest:

At the time, Pradhan was active in student politics. He headed the agitation demanding accountability from the state government over the leak of examination papers. The protest escalated and clashed with police near the secretariat in Bhubaneswar, where Pradhan and other demonstrators were injured.

Nearly three decades later, that episode is being cited amid the current NEET-UG row and the ongoing CJP led protests in Delhi demanding Pradhan’s resignation over alleged mismanagement of national exams.

Current Context:

Activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party have been on hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since June 28, demanding Pradhan take moral responsibility for paper leaks and exam irregularities.

The minister has maintained that the government is committed to reforms and has formed a high-level committee to address lapses in the examination system.

The contrast between Pradhan’s role as a protester in 1997 and his position today as Education Minister has become a talking point on social media and in political debates.

#DharmendraPradhan #NEET #PaperLeak #StudentProtest #EducationMinister #Odisha #ZeeNewsEnglish #BreakingNews