‘Time has come to remove this government’, Rahul Gandhi says as Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid CJP protest

Rahul Gandhi congratulated the students across the country who took to the streets "to protect democracy, the Constitution, and their future.”

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, on Saturday reacted to education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation amid massive students' protests over alleged irregularities in government exams, saying that the time had come “to remove this government”.

Gandhi, who met a section of protesting students at his 10 Janpath residence earlier on Saturday, congratulated the students across the country who took to the streets "to protect democracy, the Constitution, and their future.”

“Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is a huge step towards reshaping our education system. Well done to students across the country; we are proud of all of you. Heartiest congratulations to every young person, every student who took to the streets and stood firm to protect democracy, the Constitution, and their future,” Gandhi wrote on X.

Rahul Gandhi said that two demands still remain - an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi “while respecting the students and India's future”, and that action should be taken against those guilty of violence against students.

“For other sections of society—farmers, labourers, the poor, every person whom this government has suppressed and crushed—true courage lies in standing firm in a constitutional manner for one's dignity. The time has come to remove this government. Don't be afraid!” he added.

Dharmendra Pradhan resigns

Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, after weeks of massive student protests in Delhi seeking his resignation over exam irregularities, particularly the NEET-UG paper leak.

Pradhan announced his resignation from the post on X. He said that he was taking the decision keeping the future of students in mind. "...To ensure that anti-national elements are not benefited by the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country, that the nation remains united, students in India do not get tangled in legal complexities and focus on their studies and their career, I have tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister...," the letter reads.

The development comes a day after spokespersons from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the Abhijeet Dipke-led outfit that has been leading the protests, met union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. After the meeting, the CJP had said that the government had sought a day's time to decide on Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Abhijeet Dipke 'thanks' CJI

“Thanks for calling us cockroaches.” That was Abhijeet Dipke's message on Saturday to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, delivered from the stage at Jantar Mantar, minutes after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union education minister under pressure from the movement that owed its origin and name to a remark by India's top judge.

“I would like to thank CJI Surya Kant,” the Cockroach Janta Party founder told supporters, “If he hadn't called us cockroaches, I wouldn't have come to India. This movement would not have started.”

The comment traces the movement's arc back to its origin point, a May 15 Supreme Court hearing on Senior Advocate designation, during which the CJI remarked that “there are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment and don't have any place in the profession”. Kant later said the remark was directed only at holders of fake law degrees, not at unemployed youth broadly.

He has since reiterated that sections of the media misquoted him. The clarifications did little to stop the remark from going viral.

Shivam Pratap Singh is a digital journalist who works as a Deputy Chief Content Producer with Hindustan Times. Having previously worked with various platforms covering national, international as well as sports events, he blends in various topics to easy to read news pieces for the benefit of the reader. Shivam holds a Master's degree in International Relations from Jamia Millia Islamia, bringing in a unique perspective for whatever is happening around the world. An avid reader, he can be seen immersed in books and book shops while not working. Shivam treats every topic almost equally but loves to right about foreign affairs and politics of India. He has over half-a-decade of experience in digital journalism though his career started in print.Read More