Rahul Gandhi says Dharmendra Pradhan ‘incapable’ of being education minister; no mention of CJP in speech

Rahul Gandhi appeared on stage wearing a black band on his right arm, in line with the Opposition's all-black appearance in Parliament today.

Updated on: Jul 22, 2026, 19:36:17 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday said that union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan is incapable of holding the post anymore and “should be shown the door”.

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul dressed in black, at the Parliament Premise. (ANI)

Gandhi appeared on stage wearing a black band on his right arm, in line with the Opposition's all-black appearance in Parliament today as it sought a discussion on the NEET-UG paper leak in House.

Also read | Why was TMC's Kalyan Banerjee suspended from Lok Sabha for rest of Monsoon Session?

Lashing out at the government, Rahul Gandhi defended the students' outrage over paper leaks. However, there was no mention of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Gandhi's speech. The outfit, created as a satire, is now the face of a huge student-led protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and seeks the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. Follow live updates on the CJP protest here

‘Education system rigged’

Rahul Gandhi said that the education system was rigged and everyone was aware of it. He also claimed that 152 paper leaks have taken place over the past 10 years, which amounts to an average of one leak per month. “What we do know is that 152 paper leaks have taken place over the last decade. If you do the math. So one a month approx,” Gandhi said.

He also claimed that zero convictions have taken place over the decade despite the amount of irregularities in examinations. “7.5 crore students and their families are affected by this. These are middle class and poor families. They put their hard earned money into this and then they literally spat on,” Gandhi said.

Also read | CJP now has a fourth demand, says spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka. Here's what it is

He also reiterated and backed the three big demands by students:

Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Everyone who assaulted students must be held accountable.
PM Modi must apologise to students.

On detention outside PM Modi's home

Responding to questions regarding the police action against him during a demonstration outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi says he would be “happy to receive more punches”.

Also read | CJP's mega protest: A blow-by-blow account of what happened on Monday

"It is true that the policemen dragged me a little but they were whispering in my ear to remove this government. One of them said, “I am from Rajasthan, we're just wearing uniform. The second one is saying, I am from Haryana, remove them. So that sentiment is there and everybody knows the truth. Those people have to accept the order, so they are doing it. But even police is not happy about what has happened,” Gandhi said during the presser.

He said it was “irrelavant” what to happened to him, and diverted attention to students who faced a crackdown from the police during protests.

Rahul Gandhi was taken to the Chhatrasal stadium in Model Town after his detention, but was released a few hours later. Priyanka Gandhi and some other MPs were taken to the Mandir Marg police station, where Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.