New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday hit back at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for alleging that the National Education Policy (NEP) and the PM SHRI school scheme were aimed at “brainwashing” children, calling her remarks a “glaring display of ignorance and political opportunism.”

Priyanka, the Congress MP from Wayanad, had claimed that the NEP 2020 and the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) initiative were structured to teach “only one ideology,” and that “historical data have been changed” in the process.

Responding to her comments, Pradhan said, “By making such irresponsible and misleading statements, she not only distorted facts but disrespected the collective wisdom of India's educators, academicians, and citizens who shaped these historic reforms.”

He said India had waited over three decades for meaningful education reforms that could prepare its youth for the challenges of the 21st century. “The NEP 2020, formulated under the guidance of scientist K Kasturirangan, was the result of one of the most exhaustive and inclusive consultation processes ever undertaken,” Pradhan said in a post on X.

Describing PM SHRI schools as the “living embodiment” of the NEP vision, Pradhan said these exemplar schools feature smart classrooms, Atal Tinkering and Innovation Labs, digital and experiential learning, vocational hubs, and eco-friendly campuses promoting arts, culture, and inclusivity.

“To oppose such visionary initiatives is not to critique policy; it is to stand against the very idea of an India that no longer needs approval from old political dynasties to educate its children,” he added.