Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation explaining that his the decision was driven by the need to protect the future of students.
DELHI: Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as Union Education Minister, stating his decision was to protect students’ futures and to stop “anti-national forces” from exploiting the widespread youth protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. His resignation is a rare example of a senior Modi government minister stepping aside amid persistent protests and political pressure.
Pradhan, whose resignation was a key demand of the protesters, announced his decision on X, just hours before the third round of talks between the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Centre. CJP leaders had already declared that his resignation was a “non-negotiable” condition ahead of the talks.
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Shortly after, Pradhan posted a detailed message on social media confirming his resignation, which sparked celebrations at Jantar Mantar, the site where activist Sonam Wangchuk began his indefinite fast and where the protesters gathered.
Sources say Pradhan resigned voluntarily, taking moral responsibility rather than being removed, suggesting the government intended to provide him with a dignified exit. The Odisha-born BJP leader first became Education Minister in 2021 and was reappointed after the party’s 2024 Lok Sabha election victory.
Timeline of the protest
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