'I am a street fighter': Combative Pradhan arrives in Parliament to a rousing welcome

NEW DELHI: "Nothing happened. I am a street fighter, not an AC-room activist," was former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's riposte to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh's "It happens" remarks to him as he came to Parliament Monday two days after quitting the post due to protests over paper leaks.BJP-led NDA MPs expressed solidarity with Pradhan when he arrived in the Parliament complex - the first time since 2014 as just an MP. Many raised "Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad" slogan and escorted him inside. Darbhanga MP Gopal Jee Thakur placed a traditional Mithila Paag on his head while another MP honoured him with an 'angavastram'.Seen together with senior ministers and party functionaries along with cadre visiting the ex-minister, the public display of support in the Parliament complex was seen as BJP's way of sending a clear message that Pradhan's resignation was no reflection on his work. MPs emphasised that Pradhan resigned even though there were no personal allegations against him.His combative response to Ramesh showed that Pradhan, buoyed by support from colleagues, may be getting ready to respond to personal attacks during any discussion on the NEET paper leak issue.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.