India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday that he is stepping down from his job. This is a win for young people all over India who were protesting and asking him to quit. They wanted him to take responsibility for the examination paper leaks.
The protests in India were really big. Had become a major issue. This was one of the challenges for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Other politicians were also joining in. Asking for action. They even stopped work in parliament.
Dharmendra Pradhan announced that he is resigning on X. This happened when the police were using gas to break up a protest by young people in Delhi. The leaders of the protest were supposed to meet with ministers to talk about what they wanted.
Dharmendra Pradhan wrote a statement that was two pages long and shared it on X. In the statement he said that he has sent his resignation, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is Indias Education Minister. He is stepping down from this position.
“Considering the situation that has developed at Jantar Mantar and across the country — that anti-national forces should not take advantage of this situation, that the unity of the country should be preserved, that not even a single Indian student’s future should get entangled in legal complications, and that our children should devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers — I have sent my resignation to the honourable prime minister,” The Times of India quoted the letter as stating.
The self-named Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) youth movement, which has been at the helm of the protests, welcomed the resignation by stating on its X account, “Cockroaches won.. Democracy won!”
“We have done it ” said CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke to loud cheers at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi.
“This [resignation] is for them ” he said, pointing towards a banner with the pictures of 20 students whom activists say took their lives following the exam leak.
After a round of talks between CJP leaders and ministers. Held after Dharmendra Pradhans announcement. The movement said the government had accepted “all” its demands and called off the nationwide protests.
Dipke had voiced demands in his address, at Jantar Mantar. “We are cockroaches. Once it enters it does not leave ” he quipped.
He also urged his supporters not to turn him into a “hero” because of Dharmendra Pradhans resignation.
“Do not make this mistake. Do not make me a hero because of Dharmendra Pradhans resignation. The country has been ruined because of making one person a hero.”
He said that when we stop thinking about Hindu and Muslim politics and start talking about the issues it will be good, for the country.
The people who support the movement have been protesting since June. They got really angry on Monday when the police hurt a lot of students. The police used batons and tear gas to stop the groups of protesters who were marching towards the parliament building.
Demands approved
The Chief Justice of Pakistans X account made a post after talking to the government. It said that the government has agreed to give the families of students who took their lives because of the NEET paper leak as much money as possible.
The post also said that the government will drop all the cases against the people who were part of the protests. The government will not take any action against them.
The post said that the government will think about the Chief Justice of Pakistans 5-point plan to make exams better. The Chief Justice of Pakistan will meet with the government to talk more about these changes, to the exam system.
Pradhan said he was stepping down before the third round of discussions started.
The government had two rounds of discussions with CJP leaders on Monday and Friday. There was not much progress at first as the youth-led group remained firm with their requests.
One of the requests was that families of all students who reportedly died by suicide should be given 10 million rupees as compensation.
Another was that action should be taken against police officers involved in the July 20 crackdown on demonstrators and that all cases filed against students should be dropped.
The CJP had also asked for an apology, from the Rapid Action Force and Delhi Police. A request that was not included in the movements later statement.
Youth rejoice
People who were protesting at Jantar Mantar, where the police stopped them on Monday were very happy when they heard what Pradhan said.
They were saying “Jai Hind” which means we want India to win and the national song of India was playing on speakers.
The people who were protesting were also giving each sweets to celebrate.
There were a lot of police people than 1,000, standing near Jantar Mantar to make sure everything was okay this is what the people, from Reuters saw when they were there.
The protests also showed that people are really upset about not being able to find jobs, corruption and the government not being accountable.
The young people are standing up for what they believe in. This is a win for the constitution. Tluanga Ralte, a protester said this while walking around the protest site with a copy of the constitution after the minister quit his job.
“We are not a lazy generation.”
Sunil, who is 27 years old came to the protest site for the time on Saturday. He wanted to see what it was like. He said it was really exciting especially after the minister quit his job.
“What the young people did was commendable,” he told AFP.
The government tried to limit the protest on Saturday. They did not let people use the internet. They closed 18 metro stations in the capital city.
In the few days students, young activists and people who do not support the government have been protesting in some states. These states are West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The protesters are holding signs that say the minister should quit his job. Some students are not going to class to show their support, for the protest.
‘Not about personal reputation’
Pradhan, 57, is a senior member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Over the years, he has emerged as one of the party’s prominent leaders and has previously been viewed as a potential contender for a larger leadership role within the BJP.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the examination paper leaks, Pradhan said in his letter issued on Tuesday that he had accepted responsibility from the very beginning and had never attempted to distance himself from the issue.
“From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned away from this situation,” the education minister asserted in his letter today, referring to the exam leaks.
He explained that the government acted swiftly after irregularities were detected in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), which was conducted on May 3.
“The Government of India took immediate cognisance of this, handed over the investigation to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), cancelled the exam, and announced a new date for re-examination. Alongside this, it was also decided to conduct the exam in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode from next year,” he highlighted.
In the same letter, Pradhan alleged that some individuals holding responsible positions had attempted to mislead students and create unnecessary hurdles during the controversy.
Reaffirming his faith in the country’s democratic values, the minister said he has always respected the hopes and ambitions of young people, describing them as the driving force behind India’s future.
“I have always been an unwavering believer in the strength of our democracy and I have always held deep respect for the aspirations, dreams and expectations of the youth. They are not only the future of India, but also the bearers, builders, and architects of a new and developed India.”
Reflecting on the developments of the past several days, Pradhan said the situation had deeply saddened him and stressed that the matter was never about safeguarding his own image.
“Watching the events of the last 10 days has saddened me. This is not a matter of personal reputation for me.”
He concluded the letter by assuring students that the government would continue working to prevent uncertainty and confusion from affecting the country’s youth.
“My resolve is that we will not let the country’s youth get caught in a web of confusion.”
Pradhan has been part of the Union Cabinet since Narendra Modi first assumed office in 2014. During his tenure, he has headed several key ministries, including petroleum and natural gas, steel, skill development and education. He has served as India’s education minister since 2021. He also comes from a political family, as his father was a veteran BJP leader who served as a junior federal minister between 1998 and 2004.
Triumph of democracy
Pradhan’s resignation was welcomed by supporters of the Chhatra Janashakti Parishad (CJP), with India’s opposition Congress party also describing the development as a positive outcome.
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who concluded his 26-day hunger strike a day earlier, praised the decision and described it as a major achievement for democratic values.
“It’s a victory of peace, patience & persévérance,” he wrote, congratulating CJP and the Gen Z of India.
Expressing gratitude to people across the country, Wangchuk thanked citizens for standing up despite fear and supporting the movement.
“Thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation,” he added.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi also backed the student movement, calling Pradhan’s resignation an important breakthrough in the campaign.
Describing the development as a “huge step”, Rahul urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students and acknowledge the concerns of the country’s younger generation.
“Action should be taken against those guilty of violence against students,” he said. “The time has come to remove this government,” he added.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who serves as a member of the Lok Sabha, also voiced support for the youth-led protests and praised those who had participated in the movement.
“The youth of India have started to take our country back from those who tried to suppress their voice… today is the day an undemocratic and oppressive government was forced to bend to the will of the people of India,” she wrote on X.
