Prashant Kishor calls Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation ‘the beginning of accountability’

Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur Assembly by-election candidate Prashant Kishor described Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation on July 26 as “the beginning of accountability,” attributing it to public pressure that compelled the government to act. Kishor stated that the issue transcends political parties and emphasised that public mobilisation can compel those in power to respond. “This is the beginning of accountability. Accountability is being enforced under public pressure. I always say that in this country, the opposition party can be weak. The opposition cannot be weak,” he said. Expressing support for those opposing what he called the government’s “undemocratic behaviour,” Kishor said, “We stand with anyone who wants to challenge this government’s undemocratic behaviour and their work. Sonam Wangchuk is my friend. He’s a prominent academic, environmentalist, and friend of ours. This isn’t about a party; people have seen that if people stand up, if the public rises, even those in power will have to bow down.” Kishor added that the protests in Delhi were not organised by any single organisation but reflected broader frustration among young people. “What you and I are seeing in Delhi wasn’t a protest by one Sonam Wangchuk. The thousands of people who came to protest didn’t carry CJP flags. They were ordinary young people, frustrated by the daily paper leaks, unemployment, and the crumbling education system,” he said. Regarding the arrest of Janshakti Janata Dal national president Tej Pratap Yadav, Kishor remarked, “Tej Pratap announced his support yesterday, and at 1:30 am last night, Tej Pratap was arrested and sent to Beur Jail. This shows how scared these people are. Under what section was he arrested? Why was he arrested? The police administration should explain this.” He added, “Dharmendra Pradhan had to leave, and that’s not all, this is just the beginning. This isn’t going to stop.” On election awareness activities, Kishor raised an issue concerning a District Magistrate’s order stating that Jeevika Didi would work for election awareness. “We hope that the Election Commission, their observers, will take cognisance of this matter, and take action. If action isn’t taken by tomorrow, we will go to the Election Commission and sit on a protest at their gate, along with my colleagues,” Kishor said.