India's Education Minister Resigns After Youth-Led Protests, Government Appoints New Minister
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down following weeks of demonstrations by the Cockroach Janata Party, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi named Pralhad Joshi as his successor.
India's education minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation on Saturday after intense pressure from the youth-driven Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The resignation came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to hold talks with the protest group, which had been demanding reforms following allegations of exam paper leaks and related student suicides.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das told reporters that all of the movement's demands had been accepted and that protesters would withdraw peacefully. The statement marked the official end of the demonstrations that had drawn large crowds to Delhi's Jantar Mantar and, at times, resulted in clashes with police.
The president's office announced that veteran BJP lawmaker Pralhad Joshi would assume the education portfolio in addition to his existing responsibilities for consumer affairs, food distribution and renewable energy. A presidential communiqué said the appointment was made on the advice of the prime minister under Article 75 of the constitution.
Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, praised the outcome as a sign of democratic accountability, while activist Sonam Wangchuk, who completed a 26-day hunger strike, called the resignation a “victory of democracy.”
The government has indicated that further dialogue will continue to address broader concerns about the education system and the handling of the NEET-UG exam controversy that sparked the protests.