# Misled Gen Z, says Dharmendra Pradhan on resignation

2026-08-09T03:21:03+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday broke his silence on his resignation, saying some people tried to mislead Gen Z during the NEET paper leak protests. Speaking at GM University in Bhubaneswar, he said he had approached PM Modi and offered to quit. Pradhan claimed Modi later addressed the students directly. He said his post was not a matter of personal prestige and that India's 20 crore young people must be understood, not resisted. The BJD hit back. Sambalpur district president Rohit Pujari said Pradhan's own party defamed him by ordering lathi-charge and tear gas at peaceful student protests at Jantar Mantar. Pujari alleged that 21 students died by suicide in connection with the exam controversy. Police detained around 30 BJD workers ahead of Pradhan's events in Sambalpur.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/been-a-victim-of-gen-z-dharmendra-pradhan-breaks-silence-on-his-resignation-says-youth-were-misled-101786216260946.html>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gen-z-is-a-force-that-cant-be-ignored-dharmendra-pradhan/articleshow/133061131.cms>
- news.abplive.com <https://news.abplive.com/news/india/gen-z-our-children-some-people-misled-them-dharmendra-pradhan-on-why-he-quit-as-education-minister-1861122>
- indiatvnews.com <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/dharmendra-pradhan-reveals-why-he-resigned-as-education-minister-attempts-to-mislead-gen-z-2026-08-09-1050817>
- deccanherald.com <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/gen-z-is-our-children-pradhan-says-he-quit-after-attempts-made-to-mislead-students-during-protests-4104414>
- livemint.com <https://www.livemint.com/news/india/dharmendra-pradhan-breaks-silence-on-resignation-over-neet-paper-leak-some-tried-to-mislead-genz-11786246842135.html>

Tags: Dharmendra Pradhan, exam controversy, Gen Z, NEET paper leak, student protests
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