Gen Z gets an A+: Dharmendra Pradhan exits, CJP dissolves protest with big victory

Protesting students, led by Cockroach Janta Party, called off their 36-day agitation against National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as education minister, a key demand accepted by the government.

The minister put in his papers ahead of the final round of talks with CJP leaders on Saturday, where the government gave assurances over withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, no retaliatory action and “honourable” compensation to families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the paper leak. The meeting with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh concluded with CJP announcing an immediate withdrawal of the agitation across the country.

Pradhan became only the second minister to resign during the Narendra Modi-led government’s 12-year tenure, a move seen as a rare climbdown by the regime in the face of mounting public support for the student-led protest.


Announcing his resignation on social media platform X, in a letter addressed to youngsters, Pradhan said, “The future of even a single student should not become entangled in legal complications” and that students must devote their time to studies and building their careers.

“Keeping all these considerations in mind, I have sent my resignation to the Prime Minister,” Pradhan said. He also said he had taken responsibility for the crisis from day one and that he had endeavoured to ensure that no meritorious student suffered because of the exam mafia or was denied justice.

Despite the exit, the BJP ensured there was no ambiguity about Pradhan’s standing in the party, with several senior leaders visiting him on Saturday.

Later in the day, President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan’s resignation and the government gave Union minister Pralhad Joshi additional charge of the education ministry.

Pradhan also said he was stepping down to ensure “anti-national forces” do not exploit the situation and “the unity of the nation remains intact.”

Home minister Amit Shah visited Pradhan earlier in the day. Later too, a stream of leaders—including Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, and many BJP MPs and RSS functionaries—were at his residence to express solidarity. Before Pradhan, MJ Akbar had resigned as minister of state for external affairs in during the 2018 #MeToo movement after many women journalists accused him of sexual harassment.

On Saturday, addressing a joint press conference with the ministers, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the organisation was withdrawing the agitation “in good faith,” trusting that the agreed terms would be implemented within the promised timeline. Fellow spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka asked protesters nationwide to end demonstrations peacefully and return home.

Nadda said the government had agreed that no fresh cases would be filed against protesters and that the FIRs already registered by Delhi Police and BJP-ruled states would be withdrawn. The Centre also agreed to provide “honourable” compensation, in accordance with rules, to families of NEET-related suicide victims. It will meet the CJP again after four weeks to discuss the group’s five-point charter on examination reforms.

A day before wrapping up talks with the CJP, the Centre had Friday announced a package of measures, including a proposed anti-paper leak law prescribing strict punishment and fast-track courts.

Launched at Jantar Mantar on June 20, the agitation evolved into one of India’s biggest youth-led protests in recent times. It gained momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the movement with an indefinite fast and peaked following his forcible removal by police on July 18 and the July 20 march to Parliament.

It acquired wider political significance as it drew large numbers of first-time voters and young aspirants from the middle class, a constituency the BJP has assiduously cultivated over the past decade.

As demonstrations spread to several states, leaders from NDA allies are learnt to have conveyed concerns over the handling of the agitation during interactions with the government earlier this week.

The Centre’s call to concede all major demands of the protesters comes ahead of next year’s crucial Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat assembly polls.

After recovering politically from its 2024 Lok Sabha setback with wins in Haryana and Maharashtra and a historic victory in West Bengal, the BJP was faced with its first major youth-led mobilisation during the government’s current tenure, prompting the Centre to combine legislative measures with political outreach to defuse the agitation.