NEW DELHI (AP) 鈥� called off its weeks of protests on Saturday, saying the government had accepted all of its demands after the country’s education minister resigned over alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities in the education system.
announced his resignation in a post on X, handing a major victory to the youth movement that spearheaded nationwide demonstrations, sit-ins and hunger strikes. His resignation marks the first significant concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi鈥檚 government to one of the most visible waves of public dissent it has faced in recent years.
The government has rarely yielded to sustained public pressure during Modi’s more than 12 years in office. The most notable exception came in 2021, when it was forced to withdraw after a yearlong farmers鈥� protest.
The “Cockroach'” movement began more than a month ago after allegations of leaks in some of India鈥檚 biggest entrance exams. It started as a call for education reforms but grew into a broader protest over unemployment, government accountability and economic opportunities. Students, professionals, families and activists joined rallies in New Delhi and other cities across India.
Following Pradhan鈥檚 resignation, movement organizers called off the protests, saying the government had accepted their remaining demands. Those included broader reforms to India鈥檚 education system, compensation for families of students who died by suicide following exam paper leaks, and a commitment that no legal action would be taken against those who participated in the protests.
鈥淲e urge everyone to peacefully withdraw from protest sites,鈥� Ashutosh Ranka. spokesperson of the which launched the protest movement, said at a news briefing in New Delhi.
91欧美激情 of Pradhan鈥檚 resignation sparked celebrations among the thousands of protesters who have camped at New Delhi鈥檚 protest site for more than a month. Many embraced each other and waved the Indian flag.
Prachi Kumar, a corporate employee who joined the protests, said Pradhan鈥檚 resignation was necessary to restore accountability in the education system.
鈥淭his had to be done. Someone must be held accountable,鈥� she said.
declared victory following the resignation, writing on X: 鈥淒EMOCRACY WINS!鈥�
The demonstrations became one of the most persistent challenges to Modi鈥檚 government in recent years, with even after police used tear gas and batons to disperse marchers.
Tensions escalated on Monday when police moved to disperse thousands of protesters marching toward Parliament. Several students were injured in the , intensifying anger among demonstrators.
Modi鈥檚 government had earlier sought to ease tensions by announcing fast-track courts for cases involving exam paper leaks and saying it would introduce legislation to strengthen measures against cheating and corruption in the examination system. The measures failed to satisfy protesters, who said they did not address government accountability.
Opposition parties, which rallied behind the protests, said Pradhan鈥檚 resignation showed the government had bowed to sustained public pressure.
Rahul Gandhi, India鈥檚 main opposition leader in Parliament, called it a 鈥渕ajor step toward revamping our education system鈥�.
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