Dharmendra Pradhan quits; CJP calls off stir

Dharmendra Pradhan quits; CJP calls off stir

As the student protests over paper leaks spread across different States and snowballed into a major political crisis for the Narendra Modi government, Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the Education Minister on Saturday, prompting the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to call off the protests at Jantar Mantar, which had become the epicentre of the agitation for the past 36 days.

President Droupadi Murmu accepted Mr. Pradhan’s resignation and appointed Pralhad Joshi as the Education Minister. In his resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister, Mr. Pradhan said he was stepping down on his own account, so that “anti-national” elements do not exploit the situation created by the protests.

Protesters celebrate

As soon as the news of the resignation broke in the afternoon, protesters at Jantar Mantar erupted in joy. “We have done it,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told the jubilant crowd.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose hunger strike gave momentum to the protests, termed it a victory of democracy, peace, patience, and perseverance. “Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation, and thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear, and rising up from every corner of the nation,” he posted on X.

The resignation came moments before Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh met CJP spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das for talks to end the protests.

At a joint press conference with the Ministers, the CJP spokespersons said they are calling the protest off in “good faith” as the government had agreed to their two demands: ₹1 crore to the families of all students who died by suicide after the NEET cancellation and no action against any of the student protesters.

Mr. Nadda said the government will give “honourable compensation” within rules to the families of the students who died by suicide and ensure withdrawal of all FIRs registered against the protesters. “As far as their [CJP] charter for broader education reforms is concerned, we will deliberate upon and engage with them,” he said.

‘PM should apologise’

Congratulating the students on their victory, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said exit of Mr. Pradhan is a “symbolic” but huge step in rebuilding the education system.

He, however, said there are still two more demands: anyone who beat up the students should be held accountable and that the Prime Minister should apologise to the students.

“It is also a signal to other parts of society, farmers, labourers, poor people, anybody whom this regime is attacking and oppressing, there is wisdom and courage in standing up. Daro mat (do not fear). Let us get rid of this regime,” Mr. Gandhi said.

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “The Prime Minister should apologise to youth. There should be strict action against those who unleashed lathis and pellet guns.”

With the first week of the Monsoon Session of Parliament washed out over the Opposition’s insistence on Mr. Pradhan’s resignation, the government is now expecting both Houses to function.

Amid the jubilation at Jantar Mantar, there were also tense moments, as three senior police officials were injured in stone-throwing near the protest site. Police personnel quickly restored order by using tear gas and resorting to a mild lathi-charge.

Sources said the government had come around to the view on Friday evening that it would be necessary for Mr. Pradhan to resign in order to end the spiralling protests, which appeared to be spreading across the country. With Delhi University set to reopen soon and protests spreading to tier-II cities, discretion was considered the better part of valour, the sources added.