NEW DELHI - Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, handing a major victory to youth protesters nationwide who had demanded that he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks.
The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in New Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers.
“Considering 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 in his post.
“I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth.”
Cheers erupted among the thousands of protesters who have been rallying in central Delhi and elsewhere as the news spread.
Federal authorities have restricted access to the internet and to 18 metro stations to try to limit the protest in the capital.
Anger has boiled over since police on Monday injured many students, launching baton charges and firing tear gas to deter crowds of protesters marching on parliament. (Story continues below)
More grievances aired
The protests, led largely by young people, reflect anger over job scarcity, corruption and government accountability, widening since they were unleashed by discontent over leaks of question papers for high-stakes entrance exams.
At Friday’s talks, party representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka warned federal ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh that the protests could spread unless Pradhan stepped down.
Those talks came hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike, raising hopes for a breakthrough.
Protesters on Saturday aired frustration over the extended mobile internet shutdown, now in its fifth day, but vowed not to let it weaken their movement.
“They can shut down internet, metros and buses, but what will that achieve? Nothing. People who want to join the protest will still come,” said Rahul Raj, a 34-year-old protester at the site.
The protests were galvanised by leaks of question papers for medical school entrance examinations that forced more than 2 million candidates to retake tests, exposing shortcomings in the education system.
In addition to the resignation of the education minister, the activists are demanding sweeping reforms to the exam system.
