Education Minister Pradhan resigns; CJP calls it a 'win for democracy'

Citing 'deep anguish' over the ongoing protests, Dharmendra Pradhan said he has submitted his resignation to PM Modi amid sustained student agitations and mounting political pressure

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday announced his resignation, submitting his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stating that recent developments surrounding the Neet-UG examination had caused him "deep anguish."

 

His resignation comes amidst relentless pressure and a "non-negotiable" demand from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) holding him accountable for irregularities in government examinations. Thousands of students have been demonstrating at Jantar Mantar and across the nation, seeking accountability and systemic education reforms. 

  In an open letter addressed to students, Pradhan stated he had accepted responsibility for the Neet-UG paper leak "from the very first day" after irregularities surfaced during the May 3 examination.

"The events of the last 10 days have saddened me. This is not a matter of individual prestige for me," Pradhan wrote, stressing that his priority had always been to safeguard the future of deserving students.

 

He highlighted key government interventions, including handing the probe over to the CBI, canceling the original exam, and conducting a fresh computer-based test on June 21 for over two million candidates. Referring to the July 16 results, he noted that the re-examination enabled meritorious students, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, to succeed.

 

Pradhan also expressed distress over attempts by "people in responsible positions" to mislead students. Referring to the ongoing protests, he urged students not to let "anti-national forces" exploit the situation and appealed to them to remain focused on their studies. He concluded by thanking Prime Minister Modi, Cabinet colleagues, and ministry officials for their support, affirming his commitment to serving the youth. 

 

'A win for democracy': Kejriwal 

The Minister's resignation was met with swift reactions from opposition leaders and activist groups, who termed the development a victory for citizen resistance.

 

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal hailed the resignation as a "big win for democracy," extending his "congratulations to the entire country."

 

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Delhi, Abhijeet Dipke, Founding President of the CJP, stated that the resignation proved the power of public pushback.

 

"Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. And this resignation is proof that if you people are not afraid, if you people do not bow down to this government, then we can take the resignation of anyone," Dipke said. "There's no need to be afraid. This is democracy."

 

However, Dipke insisted that the resignation was only a partial victory and outlined two critical follow-up demands before ending protests:

• Ex gratia for affected families: A compensation package of ₹1 crore to the families of every student who committed suicide due to the Neet crisis.
• Police accountability: Immediate disciplinary action against police officers responsible for the force used against protesting students on July 20.

"We won't go like this... Remember, do not mess with cockroaches," Dipke warned, implying that the demonstrations would continue until the remaining demands were addressed.