Web desk(National Times)- India\u2019s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday he has resigned from his position, handing a major victory to youth protesters nationwide who demanded that he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India\u2019s biggest street protests of recent years had become a political flashpoint, posing one of the biggest challenges to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as opposition politicians joined youngsters\u2019 calls to demand action and disrupted parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers to push for the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a two-page statement shared on X, Pradhan said he has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cConsidering the situation that has developed at Jantar Mantar and across the country \u2014 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\u2019s future should get entangled in legal complications, and that our children should devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers \u2014 I have sent my resignation to the honourable prime minister,\u201d The Times of India quoted the letter as stating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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, \u201cCockroaches won.. Democracy won!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have done it,\u201d said CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke to loud cheers at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he added, \u201cWe have two more demands. We won\u2019t go like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dipke demanded that the families of all students who reportedly took their own lives after the exam leak should receive 10 million Indian rupees in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis [resignation] is for them,\u201d he said, pointing towards a banner with the pictures of 20 students whom activists say died following the exam leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secondly, he demanded that action be taken against police officials involved in the July 20 crackdown on protesters. \u201cRemember, do not mess with cockroach,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dipke also called for all cases registered against students to be withdrawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are cockroaches. Once it enters, it does not leave,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another post by CJP listed three demands as \u201cpending\u201d, with the third being a public apology from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Delhi Police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dipke also urged his supporters not to turn him into a \u201chero\u201d because of Pradhan\u2019s resignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo not make this mistake. Do not make me a hero because of Dharmendra Pradhan\u2019s resignation. The country has been ruined because of making one person a hero.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further said, \u201cWhen we rise above Hindu and Muslim politics and talk about issues, then it will be good for the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supporters of the \u201ccockroach\u201d movement had been protesting since June, but anger boiled over since police on Monday injured dozens of students, launching baton charges and firing tear gas to deter crowds of protesters marching on parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Youth celebrates
Protesters continuing their sit-in at Jantar Mantar, the same site of Monday\u2019s police crackdown, erupted in joy after Pradhan\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They shouted \u201cJai Hind\u201d, a patriotic slogan meaning \u201cVictory to India\u201d, as the national anthem played on loudspeakers and sweets were distributed among the crowd. At least 1,000 police officials stood nearby guarding the area, according to Reuters journalists at the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The protests also reflected anger over job scarcity, corruption and government accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYoung generation is here. This is a win for the constitution, protester Tluanga Ralte said, walking with a copy of the Indian constitution at the protest site after the minister\u2019s resignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are not a lazy generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal authorities even on Saturday restricted access to the internet and to 18 metro stations to try to limit the protest in the capital, the latest day of such restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students, youth activists and opposition supporters had in recent days staged protests in the states of West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, holding placards demanding Pradhan\u2019s resignation and boycotting classes in some places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Not a matter of personal reputation\u2019
Pradhan, 57, is a senior leader of Modi\u2019s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has been regarded as a rising figure, and even mentioned in the past as a potential BJP leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned away from this situation,\u201d the education minister asserted in his letter today, referring to the exam leaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pradhan said the government took immediate notice when irregularities emerged in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) held on May 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d he highlighted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his letter, the minister also accused \u201ccertain individuals occupying positions of responsibility\u201d of trying to mislead students and create obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pradhan stated: \u201cI 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWatching the events of the last 10 days has saddened me. This is not a matter of personal reputation for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pradhan concluded his letter saying, \u201cMy resolve is that we will not let the country\u2019s youth get caught in a web of confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A minister since Modi first took office in 2014, he has held the petroleum and natural gas, steel, skill development and education portfolios, becoming education minister in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His father was a veteran BJP leader and served as a junior federal minister between 1998 and 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Victory of democracy\u2019
Supporters of CJP, including the opposition Congress party, welcomed Pradhan\u2019s resignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended his 26-day hunger strike yesterday, hailed the resignation as a \u201cvictory of democracy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a victory of peace, patience & pers\u00e9v\u00e9rance,\u201d he wrote, congratulating CJP and the Gen Z of India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a Lok Sabha member and sister of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, expressed Congress\u2019s support for the youth movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe youth of India have started to take our country back from those who tried to suppress their voice\u2026 today is the day an undemocratic and oppressive government was forced to bend to the will of the people of India,\u201d she wrote on X.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Web desk(National Times)- India\u2019s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday he has resigned from his position, handing a major victory to youth protesters nationwide who demanded that he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks. India\u2019s biggest street protests of recent years had become a political flashpoint, posing one of the biggest challenges […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":130060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n