Dharmendra Pradhan's exit is just the start, Centre became 'laughing stock': Shiv Sena (UBT)

The Shiv Sena UBT on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJPled NDA government claiming that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhans resignation over the NEET controversy marked only the beginning of the political fallout from the paper leak issueIn an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana the Uddhav Thackerayled party alleged that the Centre became a laughing stock during the 35day agitation by youth and student leaders at New Delhis Jantar MantarNEET protests shattered governments narrativeThe editorial claimed that sustained protests over the alleged NEET paper leaks gave the Union government a fulltime reality check and dented what it described as Prime Minister Narendra Modis image of political invincibilityAccording to the editorial widespread anger among students and young people made Dharmendra Pradhan the first political casualty of the controversyIt further claimed that although the government initially resisted calls for his resignation mounting public pressure ultimately forced the Centre to accept his exitEditorial questions official reason for resignationThe editorial rejected Pradhans stated reason for resigning in which he said he wanted to preserve national unity and prevent antinational forces from exploiting the protestsWhich antinational forces did he see at Jantar Mantar or in protests across the country the editorial askedLabelling student leaders and climate activists as antinational is an insult to the genuine outrage felt across the nation Pradhans 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 addedThese remarks are the views expressed in the Saamana editorialParty highlights protest leaders criticises governmentThe 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 35day protest movementIt also criticised the governments handling of Wangchuks 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 fastDemands apology calls antipaper leak Bill a gimmickThe Shiv Sena UBT editorial alleged that the political accountability for the controversy should not end with Dharmendra Pradhans resignationHolding Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the police action against student protesters the editorial demanded that Prime Minister Modi issue an official apologyIt 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 issuesWarns student discontent will continueThe editorial further claimed that the digital outreach and technologydriven mobilisation by protesting students outpaced the BJPs organisational machinery during the agitationIt concluded by warning that unless the government addresses the root causes of student dissatisfaction and administrative shortcomings public anger over examinationrelated issues would continue to growWith inputs from IANS