BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down as the Education Minister over the NEET paper leak controversy, was greeted by BJP MPs with slogans of “Pradhan Zindabad” in the Parliament complex on Monday (July 27, 2026).

This prompted some of the Opposition MPs, who too were protesting outside the main entrance of Parliament against the police crackdown on protestors, to counter with chants of “Chor Chor, Paper Chor [thief, thief, paper thief]”.

The Congress termed the felicitation a “grave insult” to the country’s youth. Calling Mr. Pradhan a symbol of “corruption and India’s ruined education system,” Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the system “claimed the lives of 26 children and forced millions of youth onto the streets”. “And today, the BJP is garlanding that same person in Parliament. This isn’t any honour—it’s a celebration of the destruction of millions of children’s futures,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post on X

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the BJP was honouring Mr. Pradhan “as if he had achieved some great feat”, despite the paper leak crisis, the collapse of the examination system and the police action against protesting students. He questioned whether the BJP believed Mr. Pradhan’s tenure was “commendable” despite the paper leaks, the crumbling education system, lathi-charge on students, and the use of pellet guns.

Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that Mr Pradhan was being celebrated for implementing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh agenda through the Education Ministry. 

“Pradhan is an RSS hero because he implemented the RSS agenda through the Education Ministry. That’s why he is their hero,” Mr. Khera said, adding that the public now knew Mr. Pradhan’s “true self”.

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury likened the welcome to the BJP’s felicitation for the convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case.

Despite the protests, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met with Mr Pradhan, and his office posted a photo of the meeting on X.

Mr Pradhan, who resigned following nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, did not respond to reporters' questions about either his resignation or the proposed anti-paper-leak legislation.