Modi Accepts Education Minister's Resignation Amid Protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation on Saturday, July 8th, following weeks of intense protests led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The movement gained significant traction after exam paper leaks in May affected millions of students, leading to broader demands for education reform and accountability.

The immediate trigger was the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) after its question papers were found to have been leaked. About 2 million students took the NEET exam on May 3, but it was later scrapped, with about a dozen student suicides linked to its cancellation.

Protesters used social media to mock the government, creating memes, parody videos, and self-deprecating jokes. Videos of protesters joking about keeping their Strava streaks alive while running from police baton charges went viral. The movement's founder, Abhijeet Dipke, stated that the resignation was a major victory for youth protesters whose demonstrations had become a serious challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The protests faced significant resistance from authorities. Police used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters marching towards parliament on July 20, prompting opposition legislators to show solidarity with the movement. The ban comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended a 26-day hunger strike after being forcibly removed from a protest site where he had been fasting in solidarity with the CJP.

The Delhi High Court initially denied his wife's petition to transfer him to a private hospital but later allowed the move. Judge Mini Pushkarna endorsed the government's decision, citing medical necessity and stable vital signs despite altered blood parameters. According to Reuters, she stated that doctors had administered only oral fluids and supplements with Wangchuk’s consent, adding: “It cannot be said that any force is being used against Mr Sonam Wangchuk or that his bodily autonomy is being violated in any manner whatsoever.”

Wangchuk, 59, had been fasting since June 28 in solidarity with the CJP. The campaign has drawn widespread support and emerged as a rare public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Violent protests disrupted central Delhi on Monday, injuring nearly 180 people, including both protesters and police personnel.

Clashes involved cane charges and tear gas use by security forces. Delhi Police reported that more than 118 security personnel and 60 protesters were injured, with seventy protesters detained for legal action. Early on Tuesday, about 150-200 protesters gathered at the protest site of Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, chanting slogans amid a mild drizzle.

Security remained tight with paramilitary personnel patrolling parts of central Delhi and barricades slowing traffic. The CJP movement stated that the protest against the Education Minister continues at Jantar Mantar. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke apologized to supporters, especially girls who he said were beaten by male police officers.

The demands include the release of Wangchuk, Pradhan's resignation, and compensation of 10 million rupees ($104,000) for each student who died by suicide following the leak. About a dozen students took their own lives after the exam paper leak. Opposition parties criticized the government for using force against young protesters, while leaders of Modi’s party suggested the violence seemed orchestrated.

Analysts noted that even if talks succeed in calming protests, underlying discontent among dissatisfied youngsters presents a formidable challenge to Modi's government going forward. The heart of New Delhi – Parliament Street and Connaught Place, a colonial-era square – bears the imprint of Monday’s police crackdown on thousands of protesters.