India's education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has stepped down following weeks of intense protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party, a satire movement demanding his resignation over a series of examination paper leaks.
The protests, which drew thousands of young people across the country, were sparked by outrage over the government's handling of the exam leaks and calls for greater accountability. Pradhan's resignation marks a significant victory for the protesters, who had been met with tear gas and police baton charges in New Delhi.
"We have done it," said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, to cheers from the crowd at Jantar Mantar, the main protest site in New Delhi.
The movement's demands included the education minister's resignation, compensation for the families of students who died by suicide, no punitive action against protesters, and a public apology from the police. The government has accepted these demands, and the protest has been called off.
Opposition leaders have welcomed Pradhan's resignation but called for those responsible for violence against protesters to be held accountable. The incident reflects growing anger among young people in India over issues such as job scarcity, corruption, and government accountability.
"Young generation is here. This is a win for the constitution," said protester Tluanga Ralte, walking with a copy of the Indian constitution at the protest site. "We are not a lazy generation."