India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down on Saturday after escalating protests nationwide. Demonstrators blamed Pradhan for exam leaks affecting university admissions and government job applications taken by millions of students annually.
The protests started in New Delhi but quickly spread to more than a dozen cities. These demonstrations challenged the 12-year leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is known for his Hindu nationalist stance. Initially dismissing the protesters, the government accused them of being led by terrorists and India’s rivals, including Pakistan.
In his resignation letter, Pradhan mentioned concerns about students’ anger being exploited by “anti-national forces.” He did not clarify what these forces meant. Despite resigning, Pradhan did not apologize for the exam paper leaks.
Jubilant scenes unfolded near the main protest site in New Delhi with cheers from students. Abhijeet Dipke, leader of the satirical group ‘Cockroach Janta Party’, spearheading the protests, expressed triumph upon hearing the news of the resignation. Students further demanded compensation for families of students who committed suicide after the medical entrance exam paper leak, impacting about 2 million students.
The protests saw a shift in governmental tactics as the demonstrations grew in size and demographic breadth since their inception on June 7. Sociologist Raheel Dhattiwala emphasized education’s role as a unifying factor across various societal lines in India. Political analyst Sushant Singh noted the difficulty in demonizing the diverse protest crowd.
Rishabh and Mohit, two brothers from central India, traveled extensively to join the protest, highlighting the inequality that the exam leaks perpetuate.
The ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ was formed following controversial comments by Chief Justice Surya Kant, labeling unemployed youth as “cockroaches.” The movement has caught support from notable figures including author Arundhati Roy.
Educator Sonam Wangchuk, supporting the students, recently ended a 26-day hunger strike. Wangchuk’s strike and subsequent detention in a hospital further intensified the protests. Prime Minister Modi addressed the students on social media, acknowledging the gravity of the paper leaks but initially resisted calls for Pradhan’s resignation.
With the resignation achieved on Saturday, it remains uncertain whether protest leaders will sustain pressure on the government or pursue further demands.