India News | From Social Media Trend to Pradhan's Resignation: CJP Cries 'victory for Youth' as Centre Agrees to Demands
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. A 37-day-long agitation culminated in Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigning on Saturday afternoon. What started as a satirical social media account after CJI Surya Kant's remarks, the Cockroach Janata Party withdrew its protest from Jantar Mantar after receiving assurance from the government over its demands.
New Delhi [India], July 25 (ANI): A 37-day-long agitation culminated in Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigning on Saturday afternoon. What started as a satirical social media account after CJI Surya Kant's remarks, the Cockroach Janata Party withdrew its protest from Jantar Mantar after receiving assurance from the government over its demands.
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Council of Ministers amid nationwide protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.
A usually barren Jantar Mantar protest site witnessed commotion as the youth and students stepped in for the CJP-led protest with creative banners and Gen Z slang. After more than a week of protest, the movement witnessed new momentum when Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk joined in and became the face of the agitation with his 26-day-long hunger strike.
Six student union leaders also carried out a hunger strike alongside Wangchuk. Three of them were reportedly hospitalised, while the other three broke their fast on July 20.
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Jantar Mantar attracted large numbers after Delhi Police took Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital from the protest site, while he was later shifted to a private hospital in Gurugram on Delhi High Court's order.
The agitation peaked on July 20 with the 'Chalo Sansad' march, which was met with police action against protesters. The police action invited criticism from the opposition, while the police maintained that the protest got violent.
The pressure began to increase with nationwide protests after July 20, with many Opposition leaders also stepping in to join the movement. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, CPI MP P Sandosh, former Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad were amongst the leaders who joined the CJP at Jantar Mantar.
Eventually, today Pradhan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was later accepted. The announcement, made by Pradhan on X, prompted a celebration at the protest site.
In his letter, Pradhan stated that he was stepping down in the larger interest of students to ensure that the country's youth do not become "trapped in a web of confusion."
He highlighted his long-standing association with education and reaffirmed his commitment to the aspirations of India's youth.
"For more than four decades, I have been associated with students, teachers, and the cause of education reform. I have always believed that a strong, inclusive, and forward-looking education system is the foundation of a strong nation," Pradhan said.
Recalling the NEET-UG controversy, Pradhan stated that the Centre acted promptly after irregularities surfaced in the May 3 examination.
"However, irregularities were found in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3. The Government of India immediately took cognisance of the matter, handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the examination, and announced a date for the re-examination. Along with this, it was decided that from next year onwards, the examination would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode," he said.
As Pradhan goes out, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi was assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education. Joshi, an MP from Dharwad constituency in Karnataka, is shouldering the responsibilities of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Minister of New and Renewable Energy. During his previous tenure, he was the Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Minister.
Union Minister JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh held the third round of talks with the CJP and accepted its demands to provide suitable compensation to the families of the NEET aspirants who died by suicide and assured to withdraw the FIRs lodged against protesters anywhere in India.
Nadda said the government would carefully examine the outfit's five-point charter on examination reforms and take necessary steps after discussions. The next round of talks is scheduled after four weeks.
Sonam Wangchuk, the face of the movement, urged students and protesters to remain humble and congratulated the youth for achieving accountability through peaceful democratic means. Wangchuk called for the movement to now focus on long-term reforms in education and governance.
Wangchuk told reporters at Medanta Hospital, "I welcome and respect the step taken by the government and Dharmendra Pradhan ji. I congratulate all the countrymen, as this is a victory for democracy that we witnessed today. We must continue to safeguard democracy in India like this in the future as well."
He credited the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), volunteers, students and citizens across the country for sustaining the movement and thanked them for maintaining peace despite tensions during the protests.
The CJP hailed the activist's 26-day hunger strike as the moral force behind the movement against NEET-UG paper leak, saying his Gandhian satyagraha had "awakened an entire nation."
After the CJP withdrew its protest from Jantar Mantar, spokesperson Saurav Das said that the outfit will continue to raise the youth's issues.
Das told reporters, "This is just a trailer. The picture is still to come. The youth of the country have awakened. The youth of the country will solve all the problems in this country. As a party, as a movement, this is obviously not ending. Now we will go across the country, listen to the youth, bring the best policies for them, and continue to demand accountability from everyone. This is just the beginning. There is much more to be done."
"Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is the first step; if the system is not improved, the youth will come back in larger numbers. People have been beaten. We have demanded an FIR against police officials who did so, and we will work towards it," the CJP activist added.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke warned the outfit's supporters against the cult culture, urging the public not to centre the political victory around any single individual.
Meanwhile, Congress, which had begun its own parallel movement with 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' and a protest at Lok Kalyan Marg on July 21, welcomed Pradhan's resignation as "victory for youth" and called for "getting rid of the government."
In a video posted by LoP in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said, "There is wisdom and courage in standing up. Daro Mat (Do not be afraid). Let's get rid of this regime - this regime that is attacking India, destroying our Constitution, and capturing all our institutions." He also asked the Prime Minister to apologise to the protesters hurt in the police action.
In a press conference later on, Gandhi launched a direct attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding him personally responsible for the use of police force, including alleged use of pellet guns, against student protesters in the national capital. He emphasised that the protests were an outcome of the failed "education, media, and job creation systems" in the country, adding that this could seriously impact the country in case of an economic crisis in the future.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed joy over Pradhan's resignation, stating that the people have begun to "claim their country back."
She said, "This is a lesson to every ruler of the country; you have to listen to the will of the people. The will of the people is paramount; nothing is above it. No single leader, no dictator, no force can stop the will of the Indian people."
She highlighted that Rahul Gandhi led the party and its students and youth wings to support the nationwide students' movement.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also said on X, "India's 'Chhatron ki Goonj' has finally reached the threshold of arrogant power. This is the victory of our millions of youth who raised their voices on the streets across the country to fix the education system. This is the victory of truth and the defeat of Modi's stubbornness."
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called it a "victory for the youth and new generation who came forward with their demands."
NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who had joined the CJP on Jantar Mantar on July 21, framed the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as a symbol of youth's unity and strength. In Maharashtra, Thackeray brothers also hailed it as a victory for the youth, with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray saying that "a cockroach has made a dictator bow down."
AAP leader Manish Sisodia said that "the children and students of this country have taken Dharmendra Pradhan ji's resignation" and called for a large-scale education revolution in the country.
In a video posted on social media, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik said, "Gen Z, I'm proud of all of you. You are indeed the strength of our democracy."
Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee said that the "power of the people is greater than any office or authority," as leaders from Opposition parties described Pradhan's resignation as a victory for students, democracy and sustained public pressure.
Meanwhile, the ruling camp linked the resignation to a demonstration of the government's sensitivity to the country's youth.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the move reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to placing student voices at the centre of governance.
In a post on X, Singh emphasised, "Taking into account the views and sentiments of our youth and students, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his post. This resignation is a testimony of the fact that for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our government's concern towards sentiments of our students and youth are of paramount importance."
"Whatever concerns students have regarding the NEET exam, paper leaks, and necessary reforms in the education system are being addressed with utmost seriousness and sensitivity by our government. Our top priority remains to understand our students' genuine concerns, address them promptly, and ensure that they know their voices are being heard," he added on X.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also acknowledged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's "lifelong engagement with public life and student welfare."
The movement was underscored with mass following and a flood of posts on social media; however, it did not fail to receive on-the-ground support, and the students eventually succeeded in attaining their demands.
After days of disruptions and adjournments, the Centre and the Opposition are set to lock horns in Parliament. The Centre will introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on Monday, which provides for fast-track courts and stringent punishments. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)