Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns Amid NEET Row

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid mounting pressure from nationwide protests over the NEET-UG controversy, marking a major breakthrough for the youth-led agitation. In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan said he was deeply distressed by developments over the previous 10 days and wanted students to remain focused on their studies and careers rather than become caught in prolonged political and legal disputes. He maintained that he had taken responsibility for the situation and had not avoided accountability. Following his resignation, celebrations erupted at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) hailed the development as a victory for students and democracy.

The CJP subsequently called off its 36-day agitation after talks with Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, saying the Centre had agreed to its remaining demands. The assurances included withdrawal of police cases against student protesters and compensation, in accordance with applicable rules, for families of students who died by suicide in connection with the NEET controversy. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke described the outcome as only the beginning of a broader campaign for systemic reform, while opposition parties hailed Pradhan’s resignation as the result of sustained student pressure. The government is also expected to continue discussions on reforms to the examination system, keeping accountability and prevention of future paper leaks at the centre of the debate.