Dharmendra Pradhan, India's former education minister, has spoken publicly for the first time since his resignation amid massive youth protests. He claimed that Gen Z, who led the protests, were "misled" and said he "suffered" because of their stubbornness.

Speaking at an event at GM University in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, Pradhan said: "Gen Z is our children. Some people attempted to mislead them." He also revealed that he had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered to resign, stating, "The post was not important to me."

The protests were triggered by irregularities in competitive exams, particularly the NEET exam, a key requirement for medical school admissions in India. The exam was cancelled due to a question paper leak and later rescheduled. Reports indicate that at least 21 students took their own lives following these events.

Pradhan's resignation was the primary demand of the young protesters, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). He broke his silence about 15 days after stepping down.

Meanwhile, the Indian government clarified that consumers will not face charges for instant digital payments, with only merchants paying a "nominal" fee.

On the international front, US Vice President JD Vance called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss strengthening cooperation on trade, defense, and energy security.

Source: www.dw.com