25 July,2026 05:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan. PIC/PTI
The resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday triggered jubilant reactions from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and Opposition leaders, who described it as a victory for students, democracy, and public accountability following weeks of protests over the alleged National Eligibility Entrance Test (Undergraduate) paper leak.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed Pradhan's resignation, calling it a victory for the country's youth and a defeat for what he termed the Modi government's "arrogance". In a post on X, Kharge said the voices of students had finally reached "the doorstep of an arrogant government". He said the resignation was a victory for millions of young people who had taken to the streets demanding reforms in the education system, as well as for the families who had lost their children. Calling it "the victory of truth", Kharge said the development marked the defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "stubbornness".
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar described the 28-day protest by students at Jantar Mantar as "truly commendable". In a post on X, he said the movement, which stood firmly against oppression without fear and compelled the government to accept moral responsibility, reflected the strength of democracy and the unity of the country's youth.
He also thanked Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) for extending moral and parliamentary support to the agitation.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, speaking in Wayanad, said the party had supported the students "in the strongest way possible". She further stated that her brother and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had consistently raised the issue of paper leaks and examination reforms over the past two to three years, inspiring the National Student Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress to take up the cause.
"I am truly, truly happy. I became a little emotional... Today, I am a very happy person because the youth of our country has spoken, and nobody will ever dare to silence their voices," she said, adding that the protests had reaffirmed that the will of the people is paramount in a democracy.
Congress MP and party's Mumbai head, Varsha Gaikwad, described the resignation as "a victory for the youth, a victory for India's democracy". She also invited people to gather in Bandra to celebrate by singing the national anthem and waving the tricolour, while pledging to continue the fight for students' rights.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the resignation was "an acknowledgment that accountability in a democracy cannot be indefinitely evaded". He noted that it came after weeks of peaceful protests during which young Indians faced police action.
"But accountability does not end with a resignation. The deeper failures... must now be addressed through transparent reforms... The students... deserve to know that this is the beginning of reform, not the end of the story," he posted on X.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also welcomed the development, posting on X: "Congratulations to the entire country on Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Big win for democracy."
Party's Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj called it "very big news", saying many people had believed resignations did not happen under the current government.
"The youth of the country whom they call Gen Z... had decided that brother, now we will fix the accountability of the government... Finally, Dharmendra Pradhan had to resign," Bharadwaj said in a video statement.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh said the country's youth had "awakened the Modi government" and forced the minister's resignation.
"This is the victory of our millions of youth... This is the victory of truth... Now it is Mr. Modi's turn to apologize to our young generation and to take strict action against those who unleashed lathis, batons, and pellet guns on them," he stated.
The protests intensified after the CJP-led march towards Parliament on July 20, during which clashes broke out, with both protesters and the police accusing each other of instigating the violence.
(With ANI and PTI inputs)
