NEW DELHI - India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, bowing to pressure from thousands of young protesters who demanded his removal over a series of irregularities in crucial exams. The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organized demonstrations in New Delhi and other cities, calling for an overhaul of the education system and Pradhan's resignation.
Pradhan announced his resignation on social media platform X, stating, 'I am pained to see the events of the past 10 days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me.' He confirmed that he had sent his resignation letter to the prime minister. Following Pradhan's resignation, the CJP declared that all their demands had been met and called off the protests, which were centered at the Jantar Mantar demonstration site in central New Delhi.
The protests, which became one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration since his 2024 re-election, also included demands for compensation for those affected by examination irregularities and for legal cases against protesters to be dropped. The youth-led movement has expanded to include broader concerns over unemployment, opportunities for young people, and what critics describe as Modi's increasingly authoritarian style of governance.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi supported the protesters, calling Pradhan's resignation a 'huge step' and urging Modi to 'apologize' and respect students and India's future generations. He also called for action against those guilty of violence against students. The protesters' jubilation was palpable, with many celebrating Pradhan's resignation as a significant victory for their cause.
Sunil, a 27-year-old protester, described the atmosphere as 'truly electrifying, especially after the minister's resignation.' He praised the young people for their commendable efforts, stating, 'What the young people did was commendable.'
