The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday denied media reports that claimed former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was forced to resign because of pressure from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The party called these reports “baseless and imaginative” and said they were published only to create unnecessary controversy.

BJP MP Sambit Patra Rejects Claims

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex, BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said the reports were false. He said there was no truth to the claim that the government had first offered to shift Pradhan to another ministry before asking him to resign. According to the media reports, the government discussed the issue with representatives of the CJP, which had organised a 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar over the NEET exam paper leak.

ALSO READ: Moral Responsibility And Political Messaging: Why Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation Is More Than Just A Demand Fulfilled

What Did The Reports Say?

The reports claimed that the government initially proposed changing Pradhan's portfolio, but the CJP rejected the idea and insisted that he should leave the Cabinet completely. However, Patra has dismissed these claims and said one report even suggested that the CJP had become angry over the proposal to change Pradhan's ministry, leading to his resignation.

He said such stories were meant only to sensationalise the issue and urged people not to be misled by them. Notably, BJP MP from Sambalpur Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Education Minister on July 25. Earlier on Monday, Pradhan was welcomed with great enthusiasm by BJP MPs when he arrived at Parliament. The MPs greeted him with smiles, folded hands and raised the slogans of "Dharmendra Pradhan Zindabad."

One of them placed a traditional cap on his head and a shawl around his shoulders. Pradhan also engaged in a brief conversation with Congress general in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP, Jairam Ramesh. While speaking about his resignation, Ramesh told him, 'It happens.' Pradhan was quick to shoot back, saying, "Nothing happened. I am a street fighter, not an AC-room activist.

ALSO READ: Centre Floated Portfolio Switch For Dharmendra Pradhan But CJP Insisted On Exit: Report