New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar erupted in celebration after Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation on Saturday afternoon.
While welcoming the resignation, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke declared that justice has finally been delivered to students across the nation.
Taking a sharp jab at the ruling dispensation, he said that people need not be scared of protesting in a democracy.
“Today, justice has been delivered for the students. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. This is proof that if you don’t get scared and refuse to bow down in front of this government, you can achieve results. Don’t be scared in a democracy,” Dipke said.
“Kaha jaata tha iss sarkar main istife nahi hote. Jhukti hai duniya, jhukaane vaala chahiye (It used to be said that there are no resignations in this government. The world bows down. There needs to be people who know how to get it to bow down),” he remarked, as reported by timesnow.in.
Dharmendra stepped down over the NEET UG 2026 paper leak row. In his resignation letter, written in Hindi, he wrote that having spent the last four decades with students and the education system, the goings on of the last 10 days have been disturbing.
It was never a matter of “individual prestige” for him, as he had always taken responsibility for the paper leak, the former minister wrote.
“For more than four decades, I have been associated with students, teachers, and the cause of education reform. I have always believed that a strong, inclusive, and forward-looking education system is the foundation of a strong nation,” Pradhan said.
The Centre acted promptly after irregularities surfaced in the May 3 NEET UG 2026 examination, Dharmendra wrote.
“Irregularities were found in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. The Government of India immediately took cognisance of the matter, handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the examination, and announced a date for the re-examination. Along with this, it was decided that from next year onwards, the examination would be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode,” he said.
Anti-national forces should not be allowed to take advantage of situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country, Dharmendra noted.
The CJP had launched a protest, demanding his resignation and seeking reforms in the examination system. Things came to a head on July 20 after the protesters clashed with the police while marching towards the Parliament.
Several people from both sides received injuries.
