India’s ‘Cockroach’ protesters call off stir after education minister quits
Youth protesters agree to end agitation after Dharmendra Pradhan resigns over a series of exam paper leaks. India’s youth protesters have agreed to end their
Youth protesters agree to end agitation after Dharmendra Pradhan resigns over a series of exam paper leaks. India’s youth protesters have agreed to end their weeks-old agitation “in good faith” after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, a big victory for the movement protesting against a series of examination paper leaks. Pradhan announced his resignation on X on Saturday, just as police fired tear gas to scatter the protesters in New Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with federal ministers. “Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that antinational forces do not take advantage of this situation … I have sent my resignation letter to Prime Minister [Narendra Modi],” Pradhan wrote in his post, referring to the main protest site in the capital. “I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth.” Hours later, leaders of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the satirical movement that led the protests, said they were ending their demonstrations after the government “accepted” all its demands, a CJP spokesman said.
“All our demands have been accepted, so we request the protesters to withdraw immediately and return home peacefully,” Ashutosh Ranka said after meeting government ministers. The movement had three other demands apart from Pradhan’s sacking: 10 million rupees ($103,554) to the families of all students who died by suicide after being told to retake exams, no punitive action against people who participated in the protests, and a public apology from Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force paramilitary over the attacks on the protesters. A federal minister said the government has accepted all the demands and requested that the protest be called off. ‘Democracy won!’ “We have done it,” said Abhijeet Dipke, CJP founder, to loud cheers at the Jantar Mantar, where authorities had restricted access to the internet and closed 18 metro stations around it. The protesters at Jantar Mantar shouted “Jai Hind”, a patriotic slogan meaning “Victory to India”, as the national anthem played on loudspeakers and sweets were distributed among the crowd, as at least 1,000 police stood nearby. Similar celebrations were also reported from other cities across the country.
In a post on X, the CJP said: “Cockroaches won… Democracy won!” Pradhan’s resignation is “a victory of peace, patience & perseverance,” activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike for 26 days to support the Gen Z-led movement, wrote on X. Opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi welcomed the education minister’s resignation, but said those who hurt the students during the protests “have to be held accountable” and Modi must apologise for using such force. After Pradhan’s resignation, authorities restored access to the mobile internet around Jantar Mantar after blocking it for most of the week. “Young generation is here. This is win for the constitution,” protester Tluanga Ralte said, walking with a copy of the Indian constitution at the protest site after Pradhan’s resignation. “We are not a lazy generation.” Anger had boiled over since police on Monday injured many students, launching baton charges, firing tear gas and even alleged pellet guns to deter crowds of protesters marching on parliament. Modi’s government had earlier sought to ease tensions by announcing fast-track courts for cases involving exam paper leaks and saying it would introduce legislation to strengthen measures against cheating and corruption in the examination system.
The BriefWire