27 July,2026 11:21 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic
The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led NDA government, claiming that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET controversy marked only the beginning of the political fallout from the paper leak issue.
In an editorial published in its mouthpiece, Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party alleged that the Centre became a "laughing stock" during the 35-day agitation by youth and student leaders at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
The editorial claimed that sustained protests over the alleged NEET paper leaks gave the Union government a "full-time reality check" and dented what it described as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image of political invincibility.
According to the editorial, widespread anger among students and young people made Dharmendra Pradhan the "first political casualty" of the controversy.
It further claimed that although the government initially resisted calls for his resignation, mounting public pressure ultimately forced the Centre to accept his exit.
The editorial rejected Pradhan's stated reason for resigning, in which he said he wanted to preserve national unity and prevent "anti-national forces" from exploiting the protests.
"Which anti-national forces did he see at Jantar Mantar or in protests across the country?" the editorial asked.
"Labelling student leaders and climate activists as 'anti-national' is an insult to the genuine outrage felt across the nation. Pradhan's resignation has no connection to national unity -- the country was united by the sacrifice of 20 young lives lost due to the NEET paper leak," it added.
These remarks are the views expressed in the Saamana editorial.
The editorial highlighted the roles played by Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who undertook a hunger strike, and student leader Neha Bora in the 35-day protest movement.
It also criticised the government's handling of Wangchuk's protest, alleging a contradiction between attempts to portray him negatively and reports that senior BJP leaders later met him to persuade him to end his fast.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) editorial alleged that the political accountability for the controversy should not end with Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
Holding Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the police action against student protesters, the editorial demanded that Prime Minister Modi issue an official apology.
It also described the newly introduced Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 as a "gimmick", alleging that it merely repackaged existing legislation with enhanced penalties without addressing the underlying issues.
The editorial further claimed that the digital outreach and technology-driven mobilisation by protesting students outpaced the BJP's organisational machinery during the agitation.
It concluded by warning that unless the government addresses the root causes of student dissatisfaction and administrative shortcomings, public anger over examination-related issues would continue to grow.
(With inputs from IANS)
