Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday revealed that he had personally appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage in talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) instead of resorting to police action against students protesting over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. He said the subsequent resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reflected the importance of dialogue in a democracy.
Pawar Claims He Advised PM to Hold Talks
Speaking to reporters in Pune, Pawar said he had met Prime Minister Modi during the agitation and urged him to resolve the crisis through discussions rather than confrontation.
“I personally met the Prime Minister and told him that dialogue is essential in a democracy. I had also told Abhijeet Dipke and other young protesters that if the government showed willingness to hold talks, they too should be ready for dialogue,” Pawar said.
Asked whether his intervention influenced the government’s approach, the veteran leader said he had strongly requested the Prime Minister to avoid using force against students and instead open channels of communication.
“I strongly urged the Prime Minister to initiate dialogue and not to use police action against the students. He may have taken note of what I said,” he added.
Pradhan’s Resignation Reflects Democratic Spirit
Pawar described Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as a landmark moment for the country’s democratic framework, saying it demonstrated that peaceful public movements could compel governments to accept responsibility.
According to him, the outcome represented a significant achievement for India’s youth, whose sustained protests over the alleged examination irregularities kept pressure on the government for several weeks.
Opposition Support Helped Strengthen Movement
The NCP (SP) president also acknowledged the role played by Opposition parties, saying they extended both parliamentary and moral support to the student-led campaign. He said the developments indicated that democratic values remained strong and responsive to public opinion.
Pawar recalled visiting the protest site at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where he met CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and interacted with students participating in the agitation. He said he had encouraged both the protesters and the government to remain open to dialogue as the best way to resolve the standoff.
Criticises Police Action During Protests
While congratulating the protesters, Pawar criticised the handling of the demonstrations, saying the use of lathi-charge and tear gas against students should have been avoided. He also questioned the decision to suspend Delhi Metro services during the protests, arguing that it unnecessarily inconvenienced the public.
He further expressed concern over the action taken against several women protesters, saying such measures could have been avoided if negotiations had begun earlier.
In a statement issued earlier, Pawar praised the determination shown by students who continued their agitation at Jantar Mantar for nearly four weeks.
“The struggle and determination shown by the youth over 28 consecutive days at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in the NEET paper leak case is truly commendable,” he said.
Calling the movement a fearless campaign against injustice, Pawar said the resignation of the Union Education Minister marked a major victory for the country’s youth and reaffirmed the strength of democratic protest in India.
