New Delhi | The Congress on Monday lashed out at the BJP over its MPs welcoming former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the Parliament House complex

Within days of his resignation as education minister over large-scale student protests against him, Pradhan was welcomed by some party colleagues in the Parliament complex on Monday with a traditional cap and stole, amid slogans like "Pradhan Zindabad".

Simultaneously, opposition MPs raised slogans like "Chor Chor, Paper Chor" and hit out strongly at the ruling party for felicitating Pradhan.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the BJP MPs were welcoming Pradhan as if he had achieved some great feat.

"The country has already seen how, instead of apologizing for the paper leak in his resignation, Pradhan accused the students themselves of being misled, and after that, all central ministers praised him on social media. We believe that this entire episode is utterly shameful and a grave insult to the country's youth," Ramesh said in his post in Hindi.

He further said, "The BJP should make it clear whether, despite the paper leaks, the crumbling education system, the lathi charges on students, and the firing of pellet guns, Pradhan's work was commendable? If not, then what is this honour for? And if yes, then does the BJP want to send this very message to the country's youth and students?" The country demands answers, the Congress leader said.