Leak About Exam Triggers Protests of Gen Z, India's Education Minister Resigns

Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Photo: Wikipedia.

JAKARTA - The youth protest in India finally shook the minister's chair. Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after weeks of being urged to take responsibility for the leak of the exam that affected millions of students.

The Independent, quoted on Saturday, July 25, reported that Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday. The move was the first major concession of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government after demonstrations, sit-ins, and hunger strikes spread across various parts of India.

The wave of protests was driven by the Cockroach Janta Party or CJP. This group initially emerged as a satirical platform, but later became a gathering point for young Indians frustrated by unemployment, exam leaks, and weak government accountability.

The name "cockroach" or cockroach is used by the demonstrators as a backhanded insult. The term emerged after a senior Indian judge, Justice Surya Kant, in a speech likened India's unemployed youth to cockroaches.

Over the past week, tens of thousands of people have gathered in New Delhi. They demand Pradhan to resign in connection with the leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET.

NEET is the entrance exam for undergraduate medical schools in India. The leak in May is said to have affected around two million students and has been linked to a number of student suicides.

The Independent said the demonstration was one of the most visible forms of public defiance against the Modi government in recent years. The crowd remained on the streets despite the police using tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators who tried to move towards parliament.

Pradhan's resignation was immediately welcomed by protesters at Jantar Mantar, one of the main action points in New Delhi.

"We succeeded," said CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke.

According to Dipke, Pradhan's resignation has not closed all demands. Demonstrators are still demanding compensation for the families of students who committed suicide and action against the police in the dispersal of the action on July 20.

"We still have two more demands. We will not leave just like that," said Dipke.

He said the family of the student who committed suicide should receive compensation of one crore rupees or 77,700 pounds sterling. He also called for action against the police who were said to have acted harshly against the demonstrators.

"Remember, don't mess with cockroaches," he said.

The Cockroach Janta Party also wrote "DEMOCRACY WINS!" on X after Pradhan's resignation was announced.

Pradhan resigned as police were still firing tear gas to disperse young protesters in the Indian capital. The resignation came hours before the leaders of the action were scheduled to meet ministers again.

In his post, Pradhan said he had sent a resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Considering the situation that has arisen in Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation, I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister," Pradhan wrote.

He also expressed great respect for the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of Indian youth.

The news of the resignation triggered cheers from thousands of protesters in central New Delhi and elsewhere.

The government previously closed the exits of 18 metro stations near the protest site. Internet in the area was also suspended to limit the movement of the masses.

Public anger has been growing since Monday, when police were said to have injured many students in the dispersal of the action. At that time, the crowd moved towards parliament to pressure the government.

The protest, which was led by young people, was not only about the leak of the exam. The action also opened up a wider anger against the difficulty of finding jobs, corruption, and demands that the government be more responsible.

The Modi government has previously tried to ease the pressure by announcing a fast-track court for cases of exam leaks. The government also plans to introduce legislation to strengthen sanctions against cheating and corruption in the exam system.

However, Dipke said the demonstrators were still demanding compensation for the families of the students who committed suicide and action against the police in the dispersal of the July 20 action.