In his statement, Wangchuk said, “It's a victory of democracy—direct democracy... straight from the streets. It's a victory of peace, patience and perseverance. Congratulations CJP, Gen Z of the nation and thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation. From accountability, now to reforms.”
Pradhan announced his resignation from the post on X, stating that he was taking the decision keeping the future of students in mind. “...To ensure that anti-national elements are not benefitted 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.
Abhijeet Dipke, who has led the protest demanding Pradhan’s resignation and wider education reforms following the alleged paper leaks, received a phone call informing him about the resignation.
“We have done it. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned,” Dipke told the crowd.
“This is a big win. It shows that the country is run by the constitution. This is just the beginning,” he later said.
Addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar minutes after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister, Dipke also delivered a message to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
“Thanks for calling us cockroaches.” That was Abhijeet Dipke's message to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant from the stage at Jantar Mantar. “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 traced the movement's origins to 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 and not at unemployed youth broadly.
The Chief Justice has since reiterated that sections of the media misquoted him. However, the clarifications did little to stop the remark from going viral, as the movement continued to cite the comment as a defining moment in its emergence.
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