Dharmendra Pradhan, who resigned as Education Minister in the wake of student protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, on Monday recalled a life lesson taught to him by late Finance Minister and BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley.Speaking to The Tribune on the sidelines of a memorial event held here to pay homage to Jaitley on his death anniversary, Pradhan said, “Jaitley ji used to say — kuchh bhi ho jaaye, bas chalte raho (keep walking, no matter what).”Pradhan was responding to a query about his most memorable moments with Jaitley, who had a major influence on BJP policy before his untimely demise on August 28, 2019.The memorial was attended by top Sangh Parivar leaders, including RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale.From the government, Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, who was one of the two interlocutors, along with JP Nadda, during the Jantar Mantar protests, represented the Centre.Interestingly, Singh and Pradhan did not exchange greetings at the event.Pradhan, however, was seen engaged in a cordial conversation with Hosabale, the RSS’s second-in-command. The two later left the venue together.The memorial is organised annually by the Arun Jaitley Foundation at Arun Jaitley Park on the Siri Fort Road.Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood were also present.


