NEW DELHI – Dharmendra Pradhan, Education Minister in the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced that he has submitted his resignation following mass youth protests calling for his removal from office.
The minister announced his resignation on X after Indian police used tear gas against young demonstrators in New Delhi and only hours before protest leaders were due to take part in a new round of talks with ministers from the Modi government.
“Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that antinational forces do not take advantage of this situation … I have sent my resignation letter to Prime Minister [Narendra Modi],” Pradhan wrote in his post.
“I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth.”
His post prompted celebrations on the streets of New Delhi.
A spokesperson for the "Cockroach People's Party," which played a leading role in the protest movement that emerged after yet another scandal involving the leaking of questions for national examinations, said that if the education minister had indeed resigned, it was “good news”, but noted that there had not yet been any official government announcement.
