Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns as Union Education Minister Following Student Protests
New Delhi, July 25: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, saying the decision was made to protect students’ future and prevent “anti-national forces” from exploiting the ongoing youth protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
According to the announcement, the resignation came ahead of the third round of talks between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Protesters had been demanding Pradhan’s resignation for over a month, making it a key issue during negotiations.
The Centre had earlier assured the protesters that there would be no legal action against student demonstrators and that compensation would be considered for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak. However, no decision on Pradhan’s resignation had been announced until Saturday.
In a post on X, Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to serve the country and said he respected the concerns and aspirations of India’s youth.
Following the announcement, celebrations broke out at the protest site, with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke calling it a victory for student movements. The protests had expanded across several parts of the country, drawing support from opposition parties and increasing pressure on the Central government.
