New Delhi: The ongoing NEET-UG paper leak controversy has brought renewed attention to an unexpected chapter in Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s political journey—one that began nearly three decades ago with his own participation in protests against an alleged examination paper leak.
In 1997, when Janaki Ballabh Patnaik was serving as the Chief Minister of Congress-ruled Odisha, thousands of students gathered outside the state secretariat in Bhubaneswar to protest an alleged examination paper leak. Among those leading the demonstration was a young Dharmendra Pradhan, then a prominent student leader associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Today, as Education Minister, Pradhan is facing intense political scrutiny over allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG examination—an issue that has sparked nationwide protests and demands for his resignation.
Pradhan’s Early Days in Student Politics
According to a 2021 report by The New Indian Express, Pradhan entered student politics at the age of 18 and quickly emerged as an active organiser within the ABVP, the student wing affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
He pursued Anthropology at Utkal University and served two terms as the ABVP National Secretary between November 1994 and 1997.
During this period, he became actively involved in student movements across Odisha, particularly campaigns centred on education and examination-related issues.
The 1997 Protest Against an Alleged Paper Leak
The newspaper reported that Odisha witnessed controversy over an alleged examination paper leak in 1997, triggering widespread student protests.
At the time, Pradhan was serving as the ABVP’s National Secretary and was preparing to formally enter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to The New Indian Express, nearly 1,500 students assembled outside the Odisha Secretariat in Bhubaneswar to protest against the Congress government led by Janaki Ballabh Patnaik.
‘Pradhan Was Badly Beaten Up’: Former Student Leader Recalls Protest
The report quoted Prashant Rout, now Principal of RMD Degree College in Bhubaneswar and a junior of Pradhan at Utkal University, recalling the demonstration.
“We staged a protest against the Odisha government in front of the secretariat. Around 1,500 students joined us there,” Rout said, as quoted by The New Indian Express.
According to Rout, the protest remained peaceful until police intervened.
“We were quite scared. Pradhan was badly beaten up that time. He had a few fractures too,” Rout said, as quoted by the newspaper.
Rout also alleged that student politics during that period was frequently marked by violence.
Recalling another campus election, he claimed Pradhan was attacked by individuals he identified as Janata Dal supporters after it became evident that he was likely to win.
“He is alive today only out of sheer luck,” Rout was quoted as saying.
From Student Leader to Union Minister
Pradhan’s involvement in student activism laid the foundation for his political career within the BJP.
Over the years, he held several important positions in the Union government, including serving as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, before taking charge of the Ministry of Education in 2021.
Political observers have often credited him with strengthening the BJP’s organisational presence in Odisha over several decades.
That long-term political effort culminated in 2024, when the BJP formed its first-ever government in Odisha, ending more than 24 years of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) rule under Naveen Patnaik.
NEET Controversy Brings the Past Back Into Focus
The events of 1997 have resurfaced as the country grapples with the ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak.
Thousands of students have recently staged protests in New Delhi, with several demonstrations witnessing police action as candidates demanded accountability over alleged examination irregularities.
The issue has become a major political flashpoint, with opposition parties arguing that the Education Minister should resign before Parliament discusses the controversy.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who leads the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has maintained that a meaningful discussion on the NEET issue can only take place after Pradhan steps down.
The government, however, has rejected the demand.
Union Minister and BJP President J.P. Nadda has stated that the Centre is fully prepared to debate the issue in Parliament and has “nothing to hide.”
Similarly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has reiterated that the government has been ready for discussions since the beginning of the Monsoon Session.
As political exchanges intensify over the NEET controversy, Dharmendra Pradhan’s journey—from leading protests against an alleged paper leak in 1997 to defending the government’s handling of a similar issue nearly three decades later—has become one of the most striking narratives in the ongoing debate.