Dharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union Education Minister amid NEET protest row, student agitation
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK New Delhi, July 25: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid mounting pressure from weeks of…
File Photo of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (Image: The New Indian)
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
New Delhi, July 25: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid mounting pressure from weeks of nationwide student protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak. The resignation comes ahead of the third round of talks between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had made his removal a key precondition for further negotiations.
Pradhan announced his decision in a post on X, saying he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi while reaffirming his commitment to the aspirations of India’s youth.
CJP’s key demand met after month-long protests
For more than a month, students and CJP supporters had been camping at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET controversy.
The protests had reached a stalemate after earlier rounds of talks between the Centre and CJP failed to resolve the demand for Pradhan’s resignation. On Saturday morning, CJP leaders reiterated that no further discussions would take place unless the Education Minister stepped down.
The protesters’ three principal demands were:
- Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
- No legal action against student protesters
- Compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy
According to reports, the Centre had indicated its willingness to consider the latter two demands but had not publicly committed to the resignation demand until Saturday.
Pradhan says decision taken in students’ interest
In his statement posted on X, Pradhan said he respected the aspirations and expectations of the country’s youth and described serving in the Union Cabinet as a privilege.
He said his decision was aimed at ensuring students’ futures were not adversely affected by the ongoing controversy and that the prevailing situation should not be exploited by “anti-national forces.”
Celebrations at Jantar Mantar
News of the resignation triggered celebrations at the protest site in New Delhi, where demonstrators hailed the development as a major victory for the student movement.
CJP posted “Long Live Student Power” on social media, while founder Abhijeet Dipke told supporters that sustained public pressure had compelled the government to act.
The student agitation, which spread to several cities across the country, evolved into a significant political issue, drawing support from opposition parties and intensifying pressure on the Union government over alleged examination paper leaks and education reforms.
