Updated on: 25 Jul 2026
NEW DELHI: Celebrations broke out at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke described the development as a “victory of democracy” and credited students for compelling the government to act after weeks of protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Addressing hundreds of supporters from the main stage at the protest venue, Dipke said the resignation demonstrated that sustained peaceful protests could bring about change. Amid loud cheers, he praised the movement as a triumph of democratic values and the collective determination of students across the country.
“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 told the gathering.
In an emotional speech, Dipke recalled the names of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy and appealed to those present to observe a two-minute silence in their memory.
Pradhan’s resignation came just hours before the Centre and the CJP were scheduled to hold the third round of talks, with protesters consistently maintaining that his removal was a “non-negotiable” demand.
In his resignation statement, Pradhan said, “From day one, I took full responsibility and never turned away from the situation. I was determined not to let the potential of any meritorious student be ruined by the ‘exam mafia’ or to allow any injustice to befall any student.”
He further stated in his resignation letter that the decision was taken to safeguard students’ future and ensure that “anti-national forces” did not exploit the ongoing protests. Pradhan emphasized that stepping down was “not a matter of personal prestige” and said the developments of the past 10 days had left him “deeply saddened.”
The resignation marks a rare instance of a senior minister in the Modi government stepping down following sustained public protests and mounting political pressure over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, with the NEET-UG paper leak emerging as the central issue.
