Home Minister supported Pradhan after resignation

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following youth-led protests across the country over alleged irregularities in key examinations.

Organized by the social media-driven Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), the protesters demanded education reforms, compensation for affected students and withdrawal of cases against the protesters.

After fresh talks, the government accepted the group’s demands, prompting the CJP to end the protest. The protests have been one of the most significant challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since the 2021 farm protests.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah defended fellow party leader Dharmendra Pradhan in a social media post, hours after he resigned as India’s education minister, bowing to youth-led protests across the country.

Shah said on Twitter, “For BJP workers, the country, our youth and students are more important than any post. Today, Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji’s resignation from his post is an example of this principle.”

“The Modi government respects the sentiments of the youth of the country and is committed to implementing necessary reforms against paper leaks,” he said. He said the government’s upcoming legislature to strengthen anti-paper leak laws will help ensure “complete justice”.

Shah enumerated Pradhan’s “reforms” as education minister. “His efforts towards making the examination system more inclusive and student-centric have also been noteworthy. His tenure is a testament to his dedication towards making India a developed nation,” he said.

Shah’s post was one of several by leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party who highlighted similar initiatives and Pradhan’s “honesty”.

In announcing his resignation on Saturday, Pradhan said that he has accepted the responsibility of the medical entrance exam paper leak from day one.

He said he is now resigning because he does not want “anti-national forces” to take advantage of the situations and wants the youth to once again focus on their education and career.

Hello and welcome to DW’s India blog!

This is Mahima Kapoor, reporting from hazy New Delhi, where Sunday’s lull with a significant resignation after a week of fiery protests was both welcome and necessary.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down from his post on Saturday afternoon under pressure from youth-led protesters over India’s cockroach movement and national exam paper leak.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has defended Pradhan’s efforts and his honesty towards his work and the nation.

The government also did not waste time in replacing Pradhan with an experienced and low-profile leader, Pralhad Joshi.

After meeting their main demands, the Cockroaches Janata Party leaders and young “cockroaches” have vacated the protest site in Central Delhi, which has been cleaned and sanitized overnight.

Most people have one question in mind – what’s next? Be it for India’s education system, CJP founder Abhijeet Dubike or India’s Generation Z, which is currently gaining massive popularity among the masses.

Stay tuned!