After land acquisition bill and farm laws, Modi government’s third capitulation underlines three things. One, there’re limitations to power of parliamentary majorities—nobody gets 50% of the vote & there’s always the other side. Two, Democratic power isn’t confined to parliament. And three, the BJP cannot always counter the ‘street.’
Pradhan’s resignation is immediate damage control. Genuine education reform needs much more
Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is a surprise to Modi supporters and critics. It does immediate damage control. Genuine education reform and restoration of meritocracy for India’s young will need much more. Stop centralising, trust the states and debate why India ranks so low in global university rankings rather than curriculum politics.
Over twelve years, there could have been more than three dropped catches. No one is infallible. A governance style which has space for course correction is always better than one which is rigid, obdurate, unyielding. Had Mr Pradhan stepped down immediately after the NEET fiasco, so many unpleasant consequences could have been avoided.
Apart from all else, the resignation should be welcomed for upholding a long followed convention, not just in India but all over the democratic world. A minister taking moral responsibility for something going unacceptably wrong on his watch. It does not convey either personal guilt or weakness on the part of the government. Perhaps it should have happened a little earlier.