Dharmendra Pradhan Hits Back at Rahul Gandhi: 'Congress Is Using Students as Political Props'

[00:00:00]Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan also broke his silence and slammed Rahul Gandhi over the protest.

[00:00:05]Dharmendra Pradhan said that Congress was shamelessly exploiting students >> [music] >> and for Rahul Gandhi it's not about students. Rahul chose political spectacle [music] over debate. So, Dharmendra Pradhan reacted to the Congress protest led by Rahul Gandhi saying that I quote leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi [music] and Congress continue to shamelessly exploit the students as political tools to manufacture disruption [music] during the monsoon session of Parliament. Rahul Gandhi and Congress chose to stage a dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence causing inconvenience [music] to the public and disregarding established security protocols. Even after government conveyed its readiness for a comprehensive discussion, the Congress chose political spectacle over democratic debate. Their objective [music] was never solutions for students. It was disruption for political headlines. For Rahul Gandhi, this is not about students. This is about manufacturing confrontation [music] after every genuine avenue for discussion has been opened. Our government remains 100% committed to discussing NEET and addressing every genuine concern of our youth on the floor of the house. The students of India deserve far better than being treated [music] as props in a political campaign. They deserve certainty over chaos, solutions over slogans and responsibility over disruption. We owe our students more than outrage. We owe them answers, reforms and accountability and that is exactly what our government remains [music] committed to delivering.

[00:01:28]This is what the statement by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said while reacting to the Congress protest.

[00:01:38]So, the opposition is now logged a logged in an open credit war over the Congress protest. What should have been a show of unity has turned into a political slugfest between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. Aam Aadmi Party leaders have launched a blistering attack on both the Congress and the BJP alleging a jugalbandi between the two.

[00:01:57]Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said said in a post that while the CGP and Sonam Wangchuk protested for nearly a month at Jantar Mantar without any response from the center, Rahul Gandhi was allowed to protest outside the Prime Minister's residence and the government began talks within an hour. Aam Aadmi Party has also accused the Congress of weakening the CGP's protest and also hijacking the student-led movement. The BJP meanwhile has seized on the rift saying that the opposition is fighting for political relevance rather than students' interest. BJP has said that Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party are squabbling over credit adding that Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal is upset because the CGP movement is sponsored by him.

[00:03:27]And my colleague Piyush Mishra is now joining us with more details on the story. Piyush, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has now reacted to the Congress protest. He has also slammed Rahul Gandhi and said that [music] how the Congress party is shamelessly exploiting the students and using them as merely props.

[00:03:46]>> Well, just say that Anjali we are now seeing a big attack coming in from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and he's a team minister who is in question and I remember that in the last 1 month a massive protest are taking place from the parliament and now in the presence of Narendra Modi and the protesters are demanding answers from Dharmendra Pradhan and also from the government that he should be sacked.

[00:04:11]But now Narendra Pradhan is simply coming out and saying that for Rahul Gandhi which is not about students but this is about manufacturing confrontation after every genuine avenue for discussion has been opened up. He's also saying that even after government has conveyed his readiness and willingness for comprehensive discussion the Congress chose political spectacle over democratic debate. The objective of Congress was never solution for the students but it was disruption for political headlines. That's what Dharmendra Pradhan is now saying. We'll have to wait and watch and see how the Congress is going to react. Why? Because Congress since day one has been seeking the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.

[00:04:50]>> All right Piyush, thank you for those details. So Dharmendra Pradhan the minister in question the education minister whose resignation the opposition is seeking over the NEET paper leak gate has himself broken his silence and has come out and spoken against the Congress protest and has also slammed Rahul Gandhi saying that [music] the Congress party is shamelessly exploiting the students and using them as merely props for for their own political gains.