'Cockroaches won': India's education minister resigns after days of youth protests

India’s 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.

The anti-government protests represented the biggest youth challenge to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he came to power in 2014. Opposition parties have echoed the movement’s demands and have disrupted ​the monsoon session of parliament that began this week.

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.

In a two-page statement shared on X, Pradhan said he has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“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!”

A statement by CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke said, “This is democracy. He has resigned.”

However, he added, “We have two more demands. We won’t go like this.”

Addressing youth protesters, 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.

“This [resignation] is for them,” he said, pointing towards a banner with the pictures of 20 students whom activists say died following the exam leak.

Secondly, he demanded that action be taken against police officials involved in the July 20 crackdown on protesters. “Remember, do not mess with cockroach,” he cautioned.

Dipke also called for all cases registered against students to be withdrawn.

“We are cockroaches. Once it enters, it does not leave,” he quipped.

Another post by CJP listed three demands as “pending”, with the third being a public apology from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Delhi Police.

Dipke also urged his supporters not to turn him into a “hero” because of Pradhan’s resignation.

“Do not make this mistake. Do not make me a hero because of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The country has been ruined because of making one person a hero.”

Earlier in the day, CJP supporters had been continuing their sit-in at Jantar Mantar, the same key protest site where Indian police had fired tear gas and baton-charged demonstrators on Monday.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended his 26-day hunger strike yesterday, hailed the resignation as a “victory of democracy”.

“It’s a victory of peace, patience & persévérance,” he wrote, congratulating CJP and the Gen Z of India.

“Thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation,” he added.

‘Not a matter of personal reputation’

“From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned away from this situation,” the education minister asserted in his letter.

Pradhan said the government took immediate notice when irregularities emerged in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) held 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 his letter, the minister also accused “certain individuals occupying positions of responsibility” of trying to mislead students and create obstacles.

Pradhan stated: “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.

“Watching the events of the last 10 days has saddened me. This is not a matter of personal reputation for me.”

Pradhan concluded his letter saying, “My resolve is that we will not let the country’s youth get caught in a web of confusion.”

Additional input from Reuters ...