NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday welcomed Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, calling it a victory for democracy.Addressing supporters from the protest stage, Dipke said, “Kaha jaata tha iss sarkar mein istife nahi hote. Jhukti hai duniya, jhukaane vaala chahiye.” Moments later, he announced, “We have done it. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned.”His remarks came shortly after Pradhan posted his resignation letter, confirming that he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. This is the proof that if you don’t get scared, if you don’t bow down in front of this government, you can take anyone’s resignation. Don’t be scared in democracy, ” said CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke.
The announcement triggered loud celebrations among protesters gathered at the demonstration site, with supporters raising slogans and cheering. Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation from the Union Council of Ministers, saying he was stepping down in the larger interest of students to ensure that the country’s youth do not become “trapped in a web of confusion.”“I took responsibility for the NEET paper leak from the first day,” Pradhan said, while announcing his decision.In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan said his association with students, teachers and education reform spanned more than four decades, adding that he had always believed a strong, inclusive and forward-looking education system was the foundation of a strong nation.Referring to the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, he said the Centre had acted swiftly after irregularities surfaced in the May 3 examination and reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding the interests of students.“However, 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.The Sambalpur MP emphasised that the government’s priority was to ensure that the interests of over two million students were protected during the re-examination process.“During this period, our primary concern was to ensure that the examination for more than two million students was conducted smoothly… From the very first day, I took responsibility for the situation and never turned away from it. My resolve was that we would not allow the prospects of any meritorious student to be harmed because of the examination controversy,” Pradhan said.He said the NEET-UG results, declared on July 16, reflected the achievements of several meritorious students, including many from economically weaker sections.“The NEET-UG results announced on July 16 were satisfactory, with many meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds also achieving success,” he said.Expressing disappointment over the political developments surrounding the issue, Pradhan alleged that certain individuals had attempted to mislead students.“However, during this period, several individuals in positions of responsibility tried to create obstacles and mislead students, which deeply saddened me,” he wrote.Explaining his decision to step down, Pradhan said the ongoing protests should not be allowed to be exploited by anti-national forces and stressed that students must be able to pursue their education without disruption.“The events of the past 10 days have saddened me. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me… It is my resolve that we will not allow the country’s youth power to become trapped in a web of confusion. The situation that has emerged at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere in the country should not be exploited by anti-national forces… Keeping these considerations in mind, I have sent my resignation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister,” he said.Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Modi for granting him the opportunity to serve as Education Minister and expressed gratitude to his Cabinet colleagues, ministry officials, and staff.“I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for his guidance, trust, and continuous support… Serving the nation is the highest priority of my life, and I will always remain dedicated to it,” he said.The development comes amid nationwide protests and follows activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 26-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.(With agency inputs)
