Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation Foiled 'Foreign Forces': Kailash Vijayvargiya

Indore, Jul 26: Madhya Pradesh Minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Saturday claimed that former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had offered to resign on the very first day of the student agitation in Delhi, but the BJP leadership asked him to wait until a decision was taken.

Addressing reporters in Indore, Vijayvargiya said Pradhan had expressed his willingness to step down as soon as the protests began.

"On the first day, as soon as the student unrest began, Pradhan had told the BJP president that if he felt it was necessary, he was ready to resign as education minister," Vijayvargiya said.

According to him, the BJP president advised Pradhan not to resign immediately, saying no decision had been taken and asking him not to discuss the matter until the party reached a conclusion.

Resigned Immediately After Party's Decision
Vijayvargiya said Pradhan resigned without hesitation once the party decided he should step down.

He also praised the former minister, saying he had discharged every responsibility entrusted to him with honesty and dedication.

'Resignation Foiled Designs Of Foreign Forces'
Vijayvargiya further alleged that Pradhan's resignation had thwarted attempts by "foreign forces" to destabilise India.

"Pradhan's resignation has foiled the designs of those foreign forces that wanted to destabilise India by spreading violence, as happened in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I congratulate him for what he has done," he said.

BJP Targets Congress Over Celebration
Criticising the Congress for celebrating Pradhan's resignation, Vijayvargiya said the Opposition was claiming credit for a movement it did not lead.

Using a Hindi proverb, he remarked that the Congress was "beating drums over the birth of a child in a neighbour's house."

He claimed the student agitation was launched independently by students and that the Congress merely supported it from the sidelines.

Vijayvargiya also alleged that after the West Bengal Assembly election, the Opposition had become demoralised and viewed the Cockroach Janata Party as a new source of political hope.

Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi's RSS Remark
Responding to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's allegation that the RSS had acted like "termites" and hollowed out India's education system, Vijayvargiya dismissed the criticism.

"I feel very sorry for Rahul Gandhi's political ideology and his intellect. I think he still needs to understand what the RSS is," he said, while crediting the RSS for what he described as its contribution to the country's progress.