{"id":16995,"date":"2026-07-25T18:06:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T13:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16995"},"modified":"2026-07-25T18:06:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T13:06:44","slug":"india-education-minister-resigns-after-escalating-cockroach-protests-challenge-pm-narendra-modi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16995","title":{"rendered":"India education minister resigns after escalating Cockroach protests challenge PM Narendra Modi"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-8b477a\" class=\"body-graf\">India\u2019s education minister resigned Saturday after escalating nationwide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/india-cockroach-party-protest-march-modi-exams-delhi-rcna588364\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cCockroach\u201d<\/a> demonstrations and an activist\u2019s 26-day hunger strike demanding his resignation.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-0c197d\" class=\"body-graf\">Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on X hours before a third round of talks was set to begin between the government and an activist movement, the Cockroach Janta Party, which has demanded major reforms after the handling of an alleged exam paper leak triggered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/india-cockroach-protests-modi-exam-leaks-new-dehli-cjp-hunger-strike-rcna589017\" target=\"_blank\">one of India\u2019s biggest displays of public dissent in recent years.<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-278628\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cI hold deep respect for the aspirations, sentiments, and rightful expectations of the youth of this country,\u201d Pradhan wrote on X. \u201cRealising the dreams of India\u2019s young generation has been the moral resolve of our political and social life.\u201d <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-2c018d\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cCockroaches won. Democracy won!\u201d the CJP,  a viral movement that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/indias-cockroach-janata-party-began-joke-millions-joined-rcna346466\" target=\"_blank\">began as an online parody<\/a> of Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-3c1a24\" class=\"body-graf\">In New Delhi, crowds of students and activists were celebrating in the streets following the announcement, many of them waving India flags. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-d71bfd\" class=\"body-graf\">The scandal has been growing since May, when online leaks disrupted the NEET undergraduate exam, the fiercely competitive gateway to India\u2019s medical schools.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-063801\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"4877\" data-original-width=\"7316\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260725-india-2-nd-dbf8e9.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260725-india-2-nd-dbf8e9.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260725-india-2-nd-dbf8e9.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260725-india-2-nd-dbf8e9.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260725-india-2-nd-dbf8e9.jpg\" alt=\"INDIA-POLITICS-EDUCATION-PROTEST\" height=\"4877\" width=\"7316\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters celebrate the resignation of India&#8217;s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Sajjad Hussain \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-e3a182\" class=\"body-graf\">Anger among India\u2019s young people has exploded onto the streets in recent weeks, with protests spreading from New Delhi to other cities around the country, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. Authorities have struggled to contain the growing protests, with police <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/india-cockroach-movement-protesters-march-new-delhi-rcna588321\" target=\"_blank\">deploying tear gas and batons<\/a> against the vast crowds close to the country\u2019s Parliament building in New Delhi earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-adea92\" class=\"body-graf\">The CJP, named after a remark from India\u2019s Chief Justice Surya Kant comparing unemployed young people to \u201ccockroaches,\u201d has been at the centre of what has become the biggest challenge to Modi in his 12 years in power.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-6a7206\" class=\"body-graf\">As well as the minister\u2019s resignation, protesters\u2019 demands included compensation for the families of students who died by suicide after the exam paper leaks, and accountability over police suppression of their protests.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-9b3921\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThe families of the children who committed suicide should receive compensation\u201d of one crore rupees ($100,000), CJP posted Saturday. \u201cAnd second, these police goons who acted on the 20th. Action must be taken against the police officers for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-72132e\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cRemember, do not mess with cockroaches,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n<section class=\"inline-video inline-video--in-body inline-video--vertical-video\" data-testid=\"inline-video\" id=\"anchor-43ff66\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__background\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__player\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__badge-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"subscriber-badge styles_subscriberBadge__Lc_nV inline-video__subscriber-badge\" data-testid=\"subscriber-badge\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/asterisk-43f04b.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"styles_text__CtcQ0\">FOR<\/span><span class=\"styles_text__CtcQ0\">SUBSCRIBERS<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"inline-video-gate\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to watch this video\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-360w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/protest1_thumb-s2aln0.jpg\" alt=\"What's behind India\u2019s Gen Z \u2018cockroach\u2019 movement\" class=\"inline-video__thumbnail\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-video__placeholder-info\">\n<h2 class=\"inline-video__placeholder-title\">What&#8217;s behind India\u2019s Gen Z \u2018cockroach\u2019 movement<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"styles_caret__Aqe2z icon icon-play\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-testid=\"caret\"\/><span data-testid=\"card-duration\">01:37<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p id=\"anchor-e1c880\" class=\"body-graf\">On Thursday night, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/protesters-india-reject-modis-promise-fast-track-courts-exam-leaks-rcna588841\" target=\"_blank\">Modi offered his first public comments<\/a> in a video posted to Instagram. \u201cI know the paper leak is not a trivial matter,\u201d he said, announcing fast-track courts to prosecute cases involving examination paper leaks, while defending his government\u2019s handling of the scandal.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-f4bc6a\" class=\"body-graf\">But protesters said his response<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/protesters-india-reject-modis-promise-fast-track-courts-exam-leaks-rcna588841\" target=\"_blank\"> fell short of their demands for accountability<\/a> and hundreds of people returned to the streets of New Delhi on Friday even as authorities shut 18 stations across the city\u2019s metro network, disrupting a vital mode of transportation for its 23 million residents.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b4fb40\" class=\"body-graf\">A 26-day hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk had further galvanized the protests this week, after police forcefully admitted him to a hospital last weekend. He said in a post on X Friday that he ended his fast after appeals from dozens of members of Parliament and following \u201ca long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country.\u201d <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-eeb159\" class=\"body-graf\">Wangchuk on Saturday called Pradhan\u2019s resignation \u201ca victory of peace, patience &amp; perseverance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-0881c0\" class=\"endmark body-graf\">\u201cCongratulations 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,\u201d he posted on X.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India\u2019s education minister resigned Saturday after escalating nationwide \u201cCockroach\u201d demonstrations and an activist\u2019s 26-day hunger strike demanding his resignation. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on X hours before a third round of talks was set to begin between the government&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16996,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260725-india-nd-33728a.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16995"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16995\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}