Dharmendra Pradhan resigns as India’s education minister following weeks of nationwide protests over examination paper leaks, according to Al Jazeera. Pradhan announced his resignation on X on Saturday, just as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in New Delhi, hours before demonstration leaders were set to hold another round of talks with federal ministers.
In his resignation post, Pradhan said that “considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that antinational forces do not take advantage of this situation,” he had sent his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that he deeply respected the aspirations and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth, according to Al Jazeera. His official resignation statement was shared on X.
Pradhan said he did not want tens of thousands of students calling for his resignation to be exploited by “anti-national forces,” and that he did not want pupils to become “entangled in legal complexities” instead of focusing on their studies and careers, Al Jazeera reported.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the satire-driven movement that led the protests, told supporters at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi, “We have done it,” drawing loud cheers, according to Al Jazeera. Similar celebrations were reported in other cities across the country. In a post on X, the CJP wrote: “Cockroaches won… Democracy won!”
Pradhan’s resignation marks the first major political concession by the central government since the protests began weeks ago, according to Al Jazeera. Protest leaders said the movement would continue despite the minister’s resignation until their remaining demands were addressed. They reiterated calls for stronger safeguards against examination paper leaks, greater transparency in recruitment and admission processes, accountability for those responsible for violence against protesters, and compensation for affected families. Government officials had not immediately announced a successor to Pradhan or provided a timeline for appointing a new education minister. The outcome of future talks between protest leaders and the government is expected to determine the next phase of the nationwide demonstrations.
The CJP said three demands remain outstanding: a payment of one crore rupees, equivalent to roughly $103,554, to the families of students who died by suicide; no punitive action against those who took part in the protests; and a public apology from the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force paramilitary over their handling of the demonstrations. In a separate post on X, the movement described these three demands as still “pending,” with Dipke adding, “We won’t go like this. Remember, do not mess with cockroach,” according to Al Jazeera.
Anger had escalated since Monday, when police used baton charges, tear gas and alleged pellet guns against crowds of protesters marching on parliament, injuring many students, Al Jazeera reported. A second round of talks between senior protest leaders and government officials had been scheduled for Saturday, though it remained unclear whether that meeting would proceed. Talks were also held on Friday.
Authorities restricted internet access and closed 18 metro stations around the Jantar Mantar protest site, according to Al Jazeera. Modi’s government had earlier attempted to ease tensions by announcing fast-track courts for cases involving exam paper leaks and pledging new legislation to strengthen measures against cheating and corruption in the examination system.
According to Al Jazeera, the protests became one of the most visible public demonstrations against the Modi government in recent years, reflecting broader concerns over job scarcity, corruption and government accountability. Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid a wider movement in which opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had also met with protesting students in the lead-up to his decision, as reported in a related StudioX News report on Gandhi’s visit to Jantar Mantar.
Official Source: Dharmendra Pradhan’s official X resignation post
News Source: Al Jazeera
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