Addressing the media, Khera congratulated the youth, unemployed, and students across the country, claiming that their sustained protests had compelled the Education Minister to step down.
“We congratulate the youth of this country, the unemployed youth, and the students. They have dismissed the Education Minister of India. The youth have sacked Dharmendra Pradhan,” Khera said.
He alleged that Dharmendra Pradhan had become a symbol of the country’s poor education system, unemployment, corruption in the education sector, police brutality, and governmental insensitivity. According to Khera, the resignation of the minister is only the beginning, and the struggle against the existing system will continue.
Khera further claimed that the movement is aimed at changing a system that, according to him, has driven several students to suicide. He alleged that 21 students died by suicide in recent months and 93 students over the past five years, holding the education system responsible for those deaths.
Referring to the protests, the Congress leader accused the authorities of using excessive force against students. He alleged that protesters were dragged, baton-charged, and subjected to tear gas, pellet guns, and shock batons. He also claimed that opposition leaders who supported the demonstrations were dragged on the streets during the protests.
Praising the determination of young protesters, Khera said that although Generation Z (Gen Z) was initially mocked, it remained steadfast in its movement. He claimed that the government’s “arrogance” eventually gave way, resulting in Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Quoting Rahul Gandhi’s remarks made earlier in the day, Khera said the Leader of the Opposition had stated that “Narendra Modi is the past, and this fight is for the future.” He alleged that the present government is jeopardising the future of millions of young people.
Khera also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated references to the youth as his “friends.” He argued that if the Prime Minister truly stood with young people, the government would not have allegedly resorted to baton charges, tear gas, and pellet guns against protesting students, and would have removed the Education Minister much earlier.
The Congress leader maintained that while Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is significant, the party’s campaign against the existing education system and its handling of the examination crisis will continue.