Dharmendra Pradhan Resignation News: Protesters vacate Jantar Mantar site, stage removed

With the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) calling off its 36-day agitation following the Centre's acceptance of its key demands, authorities on Saturday began dismantling the protest infrastructure at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

Visuals from the site showed workers removing the main stage that had served as the focal point of the student-led protest, marking the formal end of the month-long demonstration.

Paying tribute to activist Sonam Wangchuk after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its protest following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said Wangchuk's Gandhian satyagraha had awakened the conscience of the nation.

Dipke said Wangchuk's 26-day fast for the country's youth was an act of "pure and supreme sacrifice" that would be remembered as the moral force which united people against overwhelming odds.

"Words cannot fully express our gratitude for your contribution. We love you and remain endlessly grateful for your satyagraha," Dipke said.

Reacting to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav called it a victory for students and youth across the country, saying their determination and resilience had prevailed.

He praised the protesters for continuing their agitation despite facing tear gas, lathi charges and other hardships, describing the outcome as a triumph of their movement.

Yadav also said the government must now focus on reforming the education and examination systems, arguing that meaningful changes would be essential if India hopes to emerge as a developed nation and a global leader.

Reacting to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi described it as a victory for the country's students, saying the movement reflected growing concerns over the state of India's education system.

Gandhi alleged that the education system had been steadily weakened through privatisation and institutional capture, and called Pradhan a symbol of "corruption", "incompetence" and the erosion of the sector. While welcoming his resignation, he said the Centre must now undertake concrete reforms to restore the education system.

He also accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of exerting undue influence over the education system, saying both the organisation and the Narendra Modi government bore responsibility for its current state.

Reacting to the Centre's decision and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, activist Sonam Wangchuk welcomed the move, calling it a "victory for democracy."

He congratulated the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), its volunteers, students, youth and citizens across the country who supported the movement, while praising the protesters for maintaining peace throughout the agitation.

Wangchuk said the focus should now shift from resignations to meaningful reforms, stressing that lasting change would come through improvements in the education system and governance. He expressed hope that the government's decision would be followed by broader institutional reforms and said the country should be governed with "love and affection, not fear," and guided by "truth, not injustice."

Following the conclusion of talks with the Centre, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka announced that all of the organisation's demands had been accepted and appealed to protesters to end the agitation.

He urged those gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar to withdraw peacefully and return home, adding that the CJP would share its future course of action at a later stage.

In a joint press briefing with the Centre, the Cockroach Janta Party said it has called off its agitation at Jantar Mantar and urged the protesters to return home after informing that the government has agreed to all of the three demands at the heart of the movement against paper leaks.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the organisation held three rounds of talks with the Centre and reiterated that the protesters had three key demands.

He said these included the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, withdrawal of all FIRs and legal cases filed against protesters and organisers along with a commitment that no fresh cases would be registered, and ₹1 crore compensation for the families of those who lost their loved ones following the NEET paper leak.

Referring to Pradhan's resignation, Ranka said the Centre had accepted the movement's first demand, calling it a significant milestone in the ongoing agitation.

Reacting to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Bhagwanrao Dipke, father of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) president Abhijeet Dipke, said the decision came at the right time as public anger over the issue had been steadily intensifying.

He said the outrage had initially been limited to the protest site at Delhi's Jantar Mantar but spread across the country after July 20, adding that no one could predict the direction the agitation would have taken had Pradhan not stepped down.

On the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav says, "This is a victory for the youth. It's a victory for the new generation who came forward with their demands. The government had to bow down..."  

"Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is a huge step towards reshaping our education system. Well done to students across the country; we are proud of all of you," Rahul Gandhi said in a video message after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the education minister on Saturday.

The Centre on Saturday issued its first public response after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju lauding his contributions to the education sector and describing his public life as a reflection of his enduring commitment to students and public service.

In a post on X, Rijiju said, "True leadership is measured over decades, and Dharmendra Pradhan's journey stands as a testament to lifelong engagement with public life and student welfare."

Reacting to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the Congress had stood firmly with the protesting students and supported their demands from the outset.

She credited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for consistently raising concerns over examination paper leaks and the need for education reforms over the past several years. According to her, his efforts inspired the Congress, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the Indian Youth Congress to build a nationwide movement for students' rights and reforms in the education system.

Calling Pradhan's resignation "only the beginning," Priyanka Gandhi said she was "truly, truly happy" with the outcome and expressed hope that the movement would lead to broader changes in the education system.

Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh arrived at the Constitution Club of India on Saturday to hold the third round of talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Earlier in the day, Nadda was seen leaving his residence in Delhi ahead of the crucial meeting with the CJP delegation.

Dharmendra Pradhan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1998 and began his electoral career in Odisha.

He served as a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2004. During his tenure, he was appointed president of the BJP's Odisha Youth Wing (BJYM) in 2001 and was elevated as the party's National Secretary in 2002.

In 2004, Pradhan was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha. Later that year, he was appointed National President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP's youth wing.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced on X that entry gates at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations have been reopened.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has expanded its list of demands from three to four, adding a new demand that personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Delhi Police issue a public apology to the protesters.

Dharmendra Pradhan removed Education Minister from his X bio, changing it to Sambalpur MP after he resigned following massive paper leak protests led by students.