‘Garlanding Him as If He Won a War With Pakistan’: Congress Slams Dharmendra Pradhan's Felicitation in Parliament

New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan received a grand welcome from party MPs in Parliament, saying the felicitation appeared "as if he had won a war with Pakistan."

The opposition's criticism came a day after BJP lawmakers greeted Pradhan with applause, slogans and garlands as he entered the Parliament complex following his resignation from the Union Cabinet. Videos of the reception quickly went viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions from political leaders and the public.

Reacting to the visuals, Congress leaders questioned the BJP's decision to celebrate Pradhan despite the circumstances surrounding his resignation. They argued that the former minister stepped down amid mounting political pressure over alleged examination irregularities and therefore should not have been accorded such a public honour.

The BJP, however, defended the felicitation, describing it as a spontaneous gesture of appreciation for a senior party leader who has held several key portfolios during his political career. Party leaders said Pradhan's resignation should not diminish his contributions to public service and reiterated that he continues to enjoy the confidence of the party.

The exchange has added to the heated political atmosphere during the ongoing Parliament session, where education reforms, examination integrity and government accountability have remained among the most contentious issues. Opposition parties have repeatedly targeted the Centre over alleged lapses in the examination system, while the government has maintained that it is implementing structural reforms to strengthen transparency and fairness.

Political observers noted that the symbolic welcome extended to Pradhan has become a fresh flashpoint between the ruling party and the opposition. While the BJP views the gesture as an expression of solidarity, the Congress has portrayed it as insensitive in light of the controversy that preceded his resignation.

The latest war of words is expected to spill over into Parliament debates, where opposition parties are likely to continue pressing the government on issues related to education governance and institutional accountability.

As political rhetoric intensifies, both the BJP and the Congress appear set to use the episode to reinforce their respective narratives, ensuring that the controversy remains firmly in the spotlight during the current parliamentary session.