...
...
Next Story

‘This is democracy’: Kamal Haasan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Pa Ranjith, Chinmayi react to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

As Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the Union Minister of Education after nationwide protsts, Tamil celebrities react to the news.

Updated on: Jul 25, 2026, 19:25:07 IST
Advertisement

Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned as the Union Education Minister after days of nationwide protests over irregularities in NEET exams. As he announced it on Saturday and the Cockroach Janata Party withdrew its protest, after the Centre promised to fulfil their other demands, numerous stars reacted to the news. Celebrities such as Kamal Haasan and Pa Ranjith spoke about it on social media.

Kamal Haasan, Pa Ranjith react to Pradhan’s resignation

Kamal Haasan and other celebrities have reacted to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
Kamal Haasan and other celebrities have reacted to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Kamal had earlier on Saturday reacted to news of dialogue between the CJP and the government, writing, “Glad to see dialogue replacing confrontation. Dissent deserves dialogue. This is democracy in action. Pellet guns, electric shock batons and nail-studded lathis have no place in the land of Bapu. Equally, attacks on security personnel and public property must be examined fairly. Accountability cannot be selective.” After news of the resignation broke, he wrote, “Vox Populi,” with an Indian flag – the Latin phrase for voice of the people.

Chinmayi Sripaada, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Lakshmi Manchu chime in

Varalaxmi posted the news of Pradhan’s resignation on her Instagram Stories, adding, “History has been written... well done to all the gen z kids .. i bow down to you and every other person that was on ground and off supporting this cause .. #jaihind. This is Democracy.”

Lakshmi Manchu reminded that there was more work to be done, writing, “So happy our students got what they fought for! But we can't stop now! We need to catch those responsible for leaking the paper. Let's keep pushing and ensure this movement doesn't die here!” PM Narendra Modi pledged to set up fast-track courts to punish those involved in the leaks.

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Lakshmi Manchu's posts on Pradhan.

Chinmayi Sripaada posted a Google screengrab of how S Anitha, a 17-year-old student from a marginalised rural background in Tamil Nadu, could not secure a medical seat under the newly mandated NEET criteria despite scoring 98% in state boards. She died by suicide in 2017. Reminding everyone how her death had sparked protests in 2017, too, the singer wrote, “Anitha. Never forget.”

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on July 25 after nationwide student protests called for his removal. The NEET exam paper leak and alleged irregularities, as well as student deaths, had sparked protests for accountability. The CJP and Sonam Wangchuk were at the forefront, before it took a life of its own.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeshita Nyayapati

Despite having a Master's degree in Journalism and over a decade of experience in print and digital media as a field reporter and sub-editor at organisations such as The Times of India and Reader's Digest, Neeshita Nyayapati remains a movie buff first and a Chief Content Producer second. She fell in love with movies in childhood and believes nothing matches the magic of watching a good film that moves you with a warm tub of popcorn in hand. Her love for writing about cinema follows that. Come Friday, you'll find her at her happy place, the movies, catching the latest rom-com or masala offering, for reviews or otherwise. As for the rest of the week, she's here reporting the juiciest news in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi or bringing out the best of celebs in interviews. While her niche is Telugu cinema, Neeshita likes to dabble in a little bit of everything to stay up to date. From film announcements to scandals and hard news angles, she has explored it all. A good book, a comforting cup of hot chocolate, puppy kisses and a stunning beach view are all she needs to unwind. Her passion for biking and travelling has taken her to various places across the country. She has found peace in everything from the frozen lakes of Gangtok to the coffee plantations of Coorg and the dense forests of Bandipur, to the monasteries of Darjeeling. But no matter where she goes, Neeshita loves coming across inspiring and moving stories.

Amazon Summer Sale is here! Splurge and save now! Click Here!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
Amazon Summer Sale is here! Splurge and save now! Click Here!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe