India Education Minister Resigns Following Youth Protests

HYDERABAD: Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following youth-led protests in the country over examination paper leaks and growing demands for education reform.

Pradhan announced his resignation in a statement posted on platform X on Saturday evening and said the resignation letter had been submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Taking into account the situation at Jantar Mantar and other areas in the country, as well as to ensure that anti-national elements do not take advantage, national unity continues to be preserved, students’ futures are not affected by legal complexities and our children can focus on their studies and build careers, I have submitted my resignation to the prime minister,” said Pradhan.

Meanwhile, following negotiations with the government, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which led the protest, announced the termination of the movement after all its demands were accepted, reported Anadolu Ajansi.

“We are withdrawing this movement in good faith, with the understanding that the agreed matters will be implemented within the agreed timeframe,” said party chief spokesperson Saurav Das to reporters.

Media reported that thousands camped in New Delhi demanding reform of the country’s education system following the leak of the national-level medical entrance examination papers in May.

On Friday, Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, two influential members of the Modi government, held a meeting with CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, representing the youth holding the protests, to discuss their demands.

BERNAMA