Inside Jantar Mantar's Saturday of celebration after Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation – 'We have done it'

Published 25 July 2026 · india

It was Saturday, June 6, when Abhijeet Dipke, the 30-year-old founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led the first protest march demanding the resignation

It was Saturday, June 6, when Abhijeet Dipke, the 30-year-old founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led the first protest march demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversies surrounding the NEET-UG medical entrance examination. Just over a month later, Dipke returned to the same venue to announce that Pradhan had resigned on another Saturday. A few hours later, CJP announced that it is ending the protest after Union government accepted all the demands of the students. Also Read | Dharmendra Pradhan resignation LIVE: CJP withdraws stir “We have done it, Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned,” Dipke told a crowd of several thousands on the afternoon of 25 July. “Kya kehte the, is sarkar mein istefe nahi hota…(They would say no one would quit in this government)" Dipke said as the supporters broke into celebration. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What led to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as India's Education Minister? ⌵ Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following intense protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over controversies related to the NEET-UG examination, including allegations of paper leaks. 2 Why did the Cockroach Janta Party demand the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan? ⌵ The CJP demanded Pradhan's resignation because they held him accountable for the irregularities and controversies surrounding the NEET-UG examination, which led to significant distress among students, including suicides. 3 How did the protests at Jantar Mantar contribute to Pradhan's resignation? ⌵ The protests at Jantar Mantar, which began in early June, grew into a massive movement that pressured the government, ultimately leading to Pradhan’s resignation as he faced escalating protests and demands for accountability. 4 What actions did the CJP plan to take after Pradhan's resignation? ⌵ Following Pradhan's resignation, the CJP indicated that their protests would continue until their other demands, including financial compensation for affected families and no action against student protesters, were addressed. 5 Should other government officials be held accountable for the NEET controversy? ⌵ Many supporters of the CJP argue that accountability should extend beyond Pradhan to include other officials responsible for overseeing the NEET examination process and addressing the systemic issues that led to the controversy.

Jantar Mantar was unusually packed on Saturday, perhaps because of weekend. The crowd was much more that June 6, the Saturday when it actually began. As the afternoon sun beat down, streams of people walked towards Jantar Mantar from every direction. Be it Raisina Road, Sansad Marg, Tolstoy Road, Ashoka Road or Rafi Marg, groups of protesters made their way past hundreds of police personnel and barricades to reach the protest site. View full Image View full Image At around 2 pm, long queues formed at the entry point near Kerala House as people waited to enter the Jantar Mantar compound, which was already packed with thousands of protesters. Volunteers struggled to manage the swelling crowds, repeatedly urging people to move forward in single file as more demonstrators continued to pour in. (Gulam Jeelani) At around 2 pm, long queues formed at the entry point near Kerala House as people waited to enter the Jantar Mantar compound, which was already packed with thousands of protesters. Volunteers struggled to manage the swelling crowds, repeatedly urging people to move forward in single file as more demonstrators continued to pour in. Also Read | Dharmendra Pradhan steps down over NEET row: How political leaders react Inside, the venue buzzed with slogans, placards and patriotic songs blaring from loudspeakers, creating a charged atmosphere as thousands of protesters gathered.. From Manto to Jalib – ‘main nahi manta’ One of the hundreds of protests had a famous line Saadta Hassan Manto line in Hindi which read – keemat jo bhi ho, aadmi agar bik jaaye to, kodun ka bhi nahi rehta' which can be loosely transflated to “whatever the price may be, once a man sells himself, he loses all his worth.” View full Image View full Image Another poster nearby had lines from Pakistani Poet Habib Jalib' famous poem 'Dastoor' – 'Is khule jhoot hom zehan ki loot ko, main nahi manta, main nahi jaanta…' These famous lines by reveolutionary poet can be translated in English as 'This bare-faced lie, this insult to our mind, I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept.' (Gulam Jeelani) Another poster nearby had lines from Pakistani Poet Habib Jalib's poem 'Dastoor' – 'Is khule jhoot hom zehan ki loot ko, main nahi manta, main nahi jaanta…" These famous lines by revolutionary poet can be translated in English as "This bare-faced lie, this insult to our mind, I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept".