India education minister resigns after Cockroach protests

India’s education minister resigned Saturday after weeks of nationwide youth protests over examination paper leaks, marking a major concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to a movement that has filled streets from New Delhi to Mumbai.

Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on X hours before protest leaders were expected to hold another round of talks with federal ministers. His departure followed escalating demonstrations by the Cockroach Janta Party, a viral satire movement that has demanded accountability after online leaks disrupted the NEET undergraduate exam in May, the fiercely competitive gateway to India’s medical schools.

“I hold deep respect for the aspirations, sentiments, and rightful expectations of the youth of this country,” Pradhan wrote on X, according to NBC News. “Realising the dreams of India’s young generation has been the moral resolve of our political and social life.”

Al Jazeera reported that Pradhan also wrote: “Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that antinational forces do not take advantage of this situation … I have sent my resignation letter to Prime Minister [Narendra Modi].” He said he did not want students calling for his resignation to be taken advantage of by “anti-national forces” or become “entangled in legal complexities” instead of studying and building their careers.

The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, celebrated the resignation. “Cockroaches won… Democracy won!” the group posted on X.

In New Delhi, crowds of students and activists celebrated in the streets, many waving Indian flags. At the Jantar Mantar protest site, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told cheering supporters, “We have done it,” Al Jazeera reported. Celebrations were also reported in other cities.

The protests have grown into one of the most visible challenges to Modi’s government in recent years. Demonstrations spread from New Delhi to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, with anger focused on alleged exam paper leaks, job scarcity, corruption and demands for government accountability.

Authorities have struggled to contain the crowds. Police deployed tear gas and batons against protesters near Parliament in New Delhi earlier this week. Al Jazeera reported that police fired tear gas Saturday to scatter protesters in New Delhi and said many students were injured Monday when police launched baton charges and fired tear gas and alleged pellet guns at crowds marching on Parliament.

The CJP takes its name from a remark by India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant comparing unemployed young people to “cockroaches.” The movement, which began as an online parody of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has become a central force in the protests.

Pradhan’s resignation did not end the movement’s demands. The CJP said three demands remain pending: compensation of one crore rupees for families of students who died by suicide, no punitive action against protesters and a public apology from Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force paramilitary over attacks on demonstrators. NBC News reported the compensation demand as about $100,000, while Al Jazeera reported it as $103,554.

“The families of the children who committed suicide should receive compensation,” the CJP posted Saturday. “And second, these police goons who acted on the 20th. Action must be taken against the police officers for that.” The group added, “Remember, do not mess with cockroaches.”

Modi addressed the scandal publicly Thursday night in a video posted to Instagram. “I know the paper leak is not a trivial matter,” he said, announcing fast-track courts to prosecute cases involving examination paper leaks while defending his government’s handling of the issue. His government also said it would introduce legislation to strengthen measures against cheating and corruption in the examination system.

Protesters said the response fell short. Hundreds returned to New Delhi’s streets Friday even as authorities shut 18 metro stations across the city, disrupting a vital transportation network.

A 26-day hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk also galvanized the protests after police forcefully admitted him to a hospital last weekend. Wangchuk said Friday he ended his fast after appeals from dozens of members of Parliament and after “a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country.”

On Saturday, he called Pradhan’s resignation “a victory of peace, patience & perseverance.” He added: “Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation and thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation.”