Indian education minister resigns after Cockroach movement protests

Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns after CJP protests

Protesters in New Delhi demanded the resignation of India's education minister over exam paper leaks. (Reuters: Anushree Fadnavis)

Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned after nationwide protests over the country's education system.

The Cockroach Janta Party organisation has been calling for the minister's resignation for months, amid ongoing exam paper leaks.

Dharmandra Pradhan has resigned following youth-led protests. (AP)

The movement made international headlines this week after thousands took to the streets of New Delhi and tried to march on parliament in a rare show of force against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

They were stopped by authorities using batons, tear gas and smoke bombs to break up crowds. More than 100 people were hospitalised, according to local media reports.

"We have done it," said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, as the protesters at the Jantar Mantar site celebrated.

Abhijeet Dipke celebrates with supporters after the education minister's resignation. (Reuters: Francis Mascarenhas)

In a letter published on X on Saturday, Mr Pradhan said he "took responsibility" for the leaking of India's national medical entrance exam in May.

The leak led to the cancellation of results and the government ordering a retest, which affected two million young people across the nation.

"The situation that has emerged at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country should not be exploited by anti national forces, that the unity of the country should remain, that not a single student's future should be entangled in legal complexities, and that our children should focus on their studies and careers, keeping these considerations in mind, I have sent my resignation to the Hon'ble Prime Minister," the letter said.

"I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth."

Supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. (Reuters: Anushree Fadnavis)

Upon hearing the news of Mr Pradhan's resignation, protesters shouted "Jai Hind" in the streets, a patriotic slogan meaning "Victory to India".

The national anthem was also played on loudspeakers throughout the area while hundreds of police officials stood on guard nearby.

"We feel very excited. You can see everybody is happy, and I believe this is just the start," one protester told the ABC.

"This feels like a festival for democracy. We are very excited about what happens next. We are hopeful that the education system will get better," another said.

After occupying Jantar Mantar — New Delhi's official protest site — for 36 days, CJP leaders have now officially ended the protest and asked demonstrators to go home.

The CJP said the government had agreed to withdraw charges against protesters in Delhi and BJP-ruled states and ⁠⁠guarantee no legal action would be taken against protest organisers.

It also agreed to provide compensation to families of students who committed suicides in the wake of exam leaks earlier this year, and ⁠⁠consider a four-point plan to reform India's exam and education system.

From 'commendable efforts' to resignation

Mr Pradhan had been India's education minister for more than five years and is one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most senior cabinet ministers.

The 57-year-old previously served as the minister of petroleum and minister of steel.

The resignation is a significant shift from the government's initial response to the exam leak scandal, which saw Mr Modi praise Mr Pradhan for his "commendable efforts towards the implementation of the National Education Policy" in a social media post.

The BJP government has also announced a bill to amend the country's Public Examinations Act to increase the punishment for offences related to paper leaks.

According to local media, individuals involved in leaks will face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh ($74,050).

Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a hunger strike this week that lasted 26 days and saw the 59-year-old forcibly removed from the protest site by police after the Delhi High Court ruled the government was responsible for his welfare.

Mr Wangchuk began his strike when the CJP began its sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar to draw attention to and support the movement.

He said Mr Pradhan's resignation was "a victory of peace, patience and perseverance," in a post on social media.

The protests also reflect anger over job scarcity, corruption and government accountability.

The months-old Cockroach movement and the protest have been seen as the biggest public challenge Mr Modi has faced in his third term.

Mr Pradhan is the second minister to resign following a scandal since Mr Modi came to power in 2014.

MJ Akbar resigned from his position as junior foreign minister in October 2018 following sexual harassment allegations.