New Delhi: The Central government is not expected to remove Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, despite growing calls for his resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak, according to a senior government official quoted by PTI. The government maintains that Pradhan cannot be directly held accountable for the controversy.
However, the Centre is reportedly willing to positively examine demands seeking financial assistance for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide in the aftermath of the examination controversy.
The government has also indicated its readiness to engage in meaningful discussions with protesters led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). While expressing openness to talks, officials believe there should be flexibility regarding the venue instead of insisting on a specific location, the PTI report stated.
According to the report, the Centre has conducted several high-level meetings to review the issue. Those discussions involved Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister JP Nadda, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The latest development comes a day after JP Nadda reiterated the government's willingness to debate the alleged NEET paper leak in Parliament under any format and for any duration proposed by the Opposition.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Nadda said the government had consistently supported holding a discussion on the matter in Parliament.
"Whether it is a short-duration discussion or a long-duration discussion, you decide how much time you want. The government is ready for discussion, and the Opposition should not keep changing the goalpost," he said.
Describing Parliament as the most appropriate platform to address the issue, Nadda stressed the need for both the government and the Opposition to jointly develop a long-term solution.
"Children are ours, yours, and the future of the country. It is the responsibility of both the government and the Opposition to protect their future. We should discuss every aspect and come up with a concrete policy," he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi renewed the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, calling it one of the protesters' "non-negotiable" conditions.
The Cockroach Janata Party has been leading demonstrations against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process since June.
On July 20, the party organised a march towards Parliament in which students and supporters attempted to reach the Parliament complex despite heavy police deployment. Security personnel used multiple barricades, carried out a lathi-charge, and fired tear gas to stop the protesters. The march was ultimately halted near Parliament Street, where extensive security arrangements had been put in place.