Indian Education Minister Resigns Amid Student Protests, "Cockroach Party" Welcomes Move

Dharmendra Pradhan, India's Education Minister, announced his resignation on Saturday, marking the sixth day of student protests demanding his removal over a series of issues related to university examinations, according to "France Presse".

Pradhan stated on his X platform account, "Given the situation arising at Jantar Mantar (the square in New Delhi where protesters have gathered since Monday) and across the country... I have decided to send my resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

The resignation received support from the "Cockroach Party," a movement founded online that led the recent protests. Abhijit Deepki, the party's founder, declared on Instagram, "We did it!".

Since a violent crackdown on a student demonstration on Monday, thousands of young people have occupied the square in central New Delhi day and night, under close security surveillance.

The protesters condemn the regular manipulation of exams and the difficulties in finding jobs after graduation, despite the country's strong economic growth, as well as Prime Minister Modi's governance style, which they view as authoritarian.

The resignation announcement came hours before a scheduled meeting between government representatives and students to continue discussions, following talks on Friday that made no progress.

A spokesperson for the "Cockroach Party" told France Presse on Saturday morning that the movement's demands remain unchanged: "the departure of Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation for those affected by the canceled exams, and the dropping of legal proceedings against protesters."

On Friday, the government approved a bill amending the law to allow "accelerated legal proceedings and impose strict penalties" on those caught cheating, which is expected to be rapidly discussed in parliament.

Prime Minister Modi is facing a new opposition movement for the first time since his re-election in 2024. On Friday evening, he posted a new video on social media thanking the protesters for their "positive contributions" to the debate.

The parliamentary opposition has supported the protesters since the beginning of the week. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress Party, called for Modi's resignation.

The crisis originated from allegations of leaking and selling medical college entrance exam questions, prompting authorities to cancel results and reschedule exams for millions of students. This sparked widespread dissatisfaction due to the psychological and financial pressures on students and their families.

India faces significant challenges in youth employment, with over 360 million people aged between 15 and 29 years.

Reports indicate that about 40% of university graduates under 25 are unemployed, leading the protests to evolve beyond exam issues into a broader expression of frustration among a generation facing limited economic opportunities.