'Dear Dharmendra Uncle... We Couldn't Even Reach Half Your Age': Pawan Khera Targets Education Minister Over NEET Row

Congress Leader Uses PM Modi's Birthday Wish to Raise NEET Student Deaths

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday launched a sharp political attack on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan by linking his birthday with the ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and the reported deaths of medical aspirants.

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday greeting for the Education Minister on social media platform X, Khera posted a strongly worded message that referenced students who allegedly died by suicide during the examination controversy.

Quoting the Prime Minister's post, Khera wrote, "Dear Dharmendra Uncle... Happy Birthday. You turn 57 today. We couldn't even reach half your age," before listing the names of 14 NEET aspirants.

Congress Links Student Deaths to Examination Crisis

According to Khera, the names belonged to students who allegedly died by suicide between the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination held on May 3 and the re-examination conducted on June 21.

The Congress leader used the post to question the government's handling of the examination process and accused authorities of failing to protect students' interests during one of the country's biggest entrance examinations.

Fresh Attack on Centre Over Paper Leak

A day earlier, while launching the Congress party's nationwide 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign, Khera alleged that paper leak incidents had become a recurring problem across the country.

He claimed, "Only small brokers and pawns have been arrested, while the real masterminds and their political patrons continue to escape accountability."

Khera also criticised the government's response to the NEET controversy, saying, "When asked about the NEET question paper leak, the minister points fingers at the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the NTA points to the CBI, which has remained a 'B-team' of the BJP. Even the prime minister has remained totally silent on the issue."

Demand for Minister's Resignation

The Congress leader urged the Centre to stop "playing with the future of students" and said responsibility must be fixed at the highest level.

Demanding accountability, Khera stated, "The education minister and the NTA cannot escape responsibility for this crisis. When trust in a national examination collapses, accountability must also be fixed at the national level," while reiterating his demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation on moral grounds.