Mumbai, July 27 (IANS) Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led NDA government, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Monday claimed that the Centre became a “laughing stock” during the 35-day agitation by youth and student leaders at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
In a sharply worded editorial in its mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, the Thackeray faction stated that the sustained protests against the NEET exam paper leaks gave the Central government a “full-time reality check”, severely fracturing the narrative of PM Modi’s ‘invincibility’.
According to the editorial, the widespread anger among Indian youth made Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan its “first political casualty”. The party argued that despite initial government resistance — noting reports that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had declared resignations were not part of the NDA’s working style — escalating public outrage ultimately forced the government to seek Pradhan’s exit.
The editorial firmly rejected Pradhan’s official reason for stepping down, where he cited a desire to preserve national unity and prevent “anti-national forces” from exploiting the protest. “Which anti-national forces did he see at Jantar Mantar or in protests across the country?” it 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,” noted the editorial.
The editorial highlighted key figures who lent momentum to the 35-day movement, including US-returnee Abhijeet Dipke, who founded the “Cockroach Janata Party” to mobilise against paper leaks, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who went on a hunger strike, and student leader Neha Bora. The party noted the contradiction in the government’s stance, pointing out that while the BJP tried to brand Wangchuk as a foreign agent, its own ministers were seen visiting him to plead for the end of his fast.
The editorial asserted that the political fallout cannot end with Dharmendra Pradhan alone. Holding Home Minister Amit Shah directly accountable for ordering harsh police lathi charges on student demonstrators, the mouthpiece demanded an official apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Thackeray camp dismissed the government’s newly introduced anti-paper leak bill — which mandates up to 10 years in prison and a Rs 10 crore fine — as a mere “gimmick”. It alleged that the bill is simply rehashed old legislation with altered penalty figures designed to mislead students and parents.
The editorial claimed that the digital creativity, technology, and spontaneous organising of the protesting youth effectively rendered the BJP’s digital outreach and IT Cell inactive during the month-long demonstration.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) warned that unless the administration addresses the root causes of student discontent and administrative failures, the “blaze of discontent” will continue to grow across the country.
–IANS
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