India: Education minister resigns amid student-led protests
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Dharmendra Pradhan announced he was resigning from his post amid growing protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HjTt Pradhan's resignation marks the first significant concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to public dissent since the farmer protests Image: ANI Photo Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns Second round of talks between Cockroach movement and Indian government scheduled Police tighten security as crowds expected to swell over weekend Cockroach Janta Party Founder Abhijeet Dipke says diagnosed with typhoid Here's a roundup of the biggest headlines from India on Saturday, July 25:
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07/25/2026 July 25, 2026 'It's a victory of democracy': Sonam Wangchuk Activist Sonam Wangchuk celebrated the news of Pradhan's resignation from a hospital in Gurago, where he is still recovering from a 26-day hunger strike.
"I T'S A VICTORY OF DEMOCRACY direct democracy... straight from the streets," he said in a post.
"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," he said, adding that it was now time to move from demanding accountability to reforms.
07/25/2026 July 25, 2026 'Remember, do not mess with cockroach': Dipke When Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan broke the news of his resignation in a two-page explanation letter, the Cockroach Janta Party's immediate reaction — at least on social media — was not celebration.
The political pressure group simply posted an "update" on its core demands from the government.
"1.Dharmendra Pradhan must resign - *CHECK* 2. 1 crore to the families of all students who died by suicide - PENDING 3. No action against any of the student protesters - PENDING," the post said.
In a speech addressing protesters at Jantar Mantar, CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke said action must be taken against the police officers who injured women and students by the use of inappropriate and brutal force.
He named certain police officers accused of brutality and said, "if we can make a minister resign, what are you?" he said.
"Remember, do not mess with cockroach," Dipke said, adding: "and to the people of India, this is how a democracy should be."
Also in a moment of humility, Dipke asked supporters not to make him a "hero" because of Pradhan's resignation. "Don't make this mistake...The country has been ruined because of making one person a hero," he said, alluding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
07/25/2026 July 25, 2026 Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns Dharmendra Pradhan became India's Union Minister for Education in 2021 Image: IANS India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said he has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in what is being seen as a major victory for the Cockroach movement and student protesters.
It was not immediately clear if Modi has or will accept Pradhan's resignation.
"Amid the situation that has emerged in Jantar Mantar and across the country, my resignation has been sent to the Honorable Prime Minister so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of the situation, the unity of the country remains intact, no student in India gets entangled in legal complications, and our children can focus their time on their studies and careers," Pradhan said in a post on X.
"I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth," he went on to say.
Cheers erupted among the thousands of protesters who have been rallying in central Delhi and elsewhere as the news spread. The update reached protesters quickly despite suspended internet services in and around the protest site.
This is the second time Modi's government has faced a significant and public setback due to a mass protest.
In 2021, the government was forced to repeal contentious farm sector laws after hundreds of thousands of farmers and union leaders camped at the borders of Delhi. Farmers had argued that the new legislation would leave eat into their income and leave them vulnerable to large corporations.
07/25/2026 July 25, 2026 CJP calls for nationwide candle march on Sunday The Cockroach movement has called for a nationwide candle march on Sunday evening, as it looks to keep up the pressure on the Narendra Modi government.
"One person, one candle. For every student the government failed. March together in silence," the poster said.
That is despite ongoing talks between the movement's spokespeople and the government. CJP leaders and protesters on the ground have said that they will keep taking to the streets until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Critics of the movement have pointed out that the government has arrested several reported to be involved in the paper leak scandal. Moreover, paper leaks have long happened in India even under previous governments. A common arguments is that removing a minister would not make a difference.
Countering this, protesters and their supporters have said that as education minister, the buck stops with Pradhan. CJP leaders have repeated that the minister must take accountability for the leak, which reportedly pushed at least 20 students to suicide.
07/25/2026 July 25, 2026 PM Modi 'thanks friends' in another late night video Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi uploaded yet another reel overnight — this time thanking "friends" for their suggestions over a Gen-Z style video posted late the night before.
"I had a chance to meet you all late last night. The response to the video I posted, the insightful suggestions... thank you everybody," he said in the latest video.
In the previous reel, the prime minister had appealed to the nation that the…
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