Cockroach Party Halts Mass Protests After Indian Education Minister Resigns

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has halted its mass protest actions after the Indian government accepted all demands from the demonstrators, a party spokesperson said. “All our demands have been accepted,” said CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, as reported by the BBC on Saturday (25/7/2026). Representatives of the Cockroach Party had met with several federal ministers in India to present a list of demands from the protesters, who were predominantly young Indians. The demands included the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation of 10 million rupees (USD 103,554) for the families of victims who allegedly died by suicide due to the exam paper leaks, and immunity from legal action for those who participated in the protests. In a press conference, the Cockroach Party stated it was ceasing the protest actions “in good faith” and added that it had submitted a draft written guarantee to the government, which would respond by Tuesday next week at the latest. “We ask the protesters to stop the protest actions peacefully and immediately,” Ranka said. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday, handing a major victory to young demonstrators nationwide who had demanded he step down to take responsibility for the exam paper leaks. The minister announced his resignation on social media platform X as police fired tear gas to disperse young protesters in New Delhi. “In view of the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation… I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister,” Pradhan wrote. Cheers erupted among the thousands of protesters as news of the resignation spread. Federal authorities had earlier restricted internet access and closed 18 metro stations to try to contain the protests in New Delhi. Anger had escalated since police injured many students on Monday, using baton charges and tear gas to block crowds of demonstrators moving towards parliament. The protests, largely led by young people and sparked by outrage over the leaking of crucial university entrance exams, reflected wider discontent over job scarcity, corruption, and government accountability.