New Delhi, July 27: The Congress party on Monday criticised the welcome given to former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan by his fellow BJP MPs on Parliament premises, calling the developments “shameful”.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress MP and General Secretary in-charge Communications, took to social media to question whether the BJP considered Pradhan’s work commendable.

“Today, BJP MPs are welcoming former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as if he has achieved some great feat. The country has already seen how, instead of apologising for the paper leak in his resignation, Pradhan accused the students themselves of being misled, and after that, all central ministers praised him on social media. We believe that this entire episode is utterly shameful and a grave insult to the country’s youth,” he said.

“The BJP should make it clear whether, despite the paper leaks, the crumbling education system, the lathi charges on students, and the firing of pellet guns, Pradhan’s work was commendable?” asked the Congress MP.

“If not, then what is this honour for? And if yes, then does the BJP want to send this very message to the country’s youth and students? The country demands answers,” said Ramesh.

Earlier, Pradhan’s arrival at Parliament triggered spontaneous slogan-shouting by his fellow BJP and NDA MPs. As the former Education Minister stepped out of his car, with folded hands, cries of “Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad” rent the air.

There were celebratory scenes around Pradhan as one of the MPs presented him with a traditional headgear and placed a shawl on his shoulders.

Pradhan had stepped down as the Union Education Minister on Saturday following weeks of protest by a social media-driven movement, Cockroach Janta Party, and supporting groups over NEET irregularities.

The CJP concluded its protest soon after Pradhan’s exit from the Union Cabinet.

Pralhad Joshi, who currently serves as the Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs, took over the additional responsibility of the Education Ministry following the resignation of Pradhan.

Amaravati, July 27: A Class 10 student, who had shared the dais with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu during a Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting at a government school in Polavaram district just three days ago, has died by suicide on Monday.

Murram Shivani, who sat next to the Chief Minister and spoke during the MPTM 4.0 at Zilla Parishad High School in Rampachodavaram, hanged herself at her grandmother’s house in Irlapalli village.

The girl left behind a handwritten suicide note, apologising to her parents for failing to fulfil their dreams. The reason for her extreme step was not known.

The girl’s parents work at a hotel in Korukonda while she was staying with her grandmother and was studying at Government High School, Rampachodavaram.

Police registered a case and took up investigation.

Shivani, who was said to be active in studies, had attracted the attention of all with her speech at MPTM 4.0 in the presence of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. She had expressed her wish to work hard and win the Shining Star Award next year.

After her speech, the Chief Minister had called her and made her sit next to her. He also had a chat with her.

Chief Minister Naidu said he was deeply saddened by the passing away of Murram Shivani.

He ordered officials to conduct a thorough investigation into Shivani’s death.

“It is distressing that Shivani, who had spoken so enthusiastically on stage during the mega parent-teacher meeting in Rampachodavaram, has taken her own life. I recall the words she shared with me that day about her studies and her high aspirations,” the Chief Minister said in a post on ‘X’.

“It is heartbreaking to see a tribal girl with such a promising future lose her life in this manner. Regardless of the underlying reasons, the fact that she is gone before realizing her dreams deeply troubles me,” he said.

“Students and the youth must stand strong in the face of challenges and hardships. I urge everyone not to succumb to pressure, despair, or hopelessness. There is a solution to every problem. Please share your pain and distress with your family, friends, and loved ones. Overcome the pressure and move forward to make your dreams a reality. I want to assure you that the government stands by you in every way,” added the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister and Education Minister Nara Lokesh attended the Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (MPTM) at Zilla Parishad High School at Rampachodavaram on July 24. They interacted with students, parents and teachers. They also had lunch with the students.

The state government has been organising MPTM at government schools across the state to unite parents, teachers and communities for better student progress.

Kolkata, July 27: Two more persons have been nabbed in connection with the violence and attacks on police personnel and journalists during the July 24 protest rally in Kolkata against the NEET examination paper leak and other exam scandals, taking the total number of arrests to 16, officials said on Monday.

Earlier, from Saturday evening till Sunday afternoon, 14 persons were arrested after being identified through CCTV footage and video recordings of the violence.

The two persons arrested on Monday morning have been identified as Waqar Azam (35), a resident of Karaya Area at Park Circus in South-East Kolkata, and Zaved Akhtar (32), a resident of Garden Reach area in the southern outskirts of Kolkata.

Both will be presented at a lower court in Kolkata later in the day, and the public prosecutor will seek their police custody.

They will all be tried under the newly enacted West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, which provides for stricter measures against anti-social and violent activities, as was already announced by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari last week.

Tension broke out at the joint rally organised by Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and some students and youth organisations against NEET examination paper leak on July 24 afternoon, as a section of the protesters hurled glass bottles, stones, bricks, bamboo sticks and shoes at the police personnel.

Some of the media persons covering the incident also suffered injuries after being hit by the things hurled by a section of the protesters. Some of the media personnel had to be hospitalised.

On Sunday afternoon, the Chief Minister said that none of the 14 persons arrested till that time in this connection was a student.

He also said that all those arrested after being identified as perpetrators through CCTV footage and videos were actually fundamentalists whose main intention on Friday was to create a major disturbance in the city, posing as student activists after assembling at the protest rally.

“Their only aim was to disturb the peace in the state and the country. All of them will be dealt with under the newly enacted West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026,” the Chief Minister said while speaking to the media persons on Sunday afternoon.