Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down from his role as India's Education Minister on Saturday following a 36-day student protest over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The resignation came after weeks of demonstrations led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), with the government also agreeing to withdraw FIRs filed against protesting students and provide Rs. 1crore in compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide.
Following the announcement, CJP leaders called off the protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, describing the development as a victory for students. The party said the government had accepted all its key demands and that both sides would meet again in four weeks to discuss broader reforms in the education system.
Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi was assigned the additional charge of the Education Ministry.
In his resignation letter, Pradhan stated that he stepped down to prevent further unrest and ensure that students could focus on their education.
Following Pradhan's resignation, BJP politicians have publicly rallied in support of him.
