A youth-driven protest movement known as India’s “cockroach” party said it would call off demonstrations in New Delhi on Friday after government officials “accepted” every demand raised by the group.
“All our demands have been accepted, so we request the protesters to withdraw immediately and return home peacefully,” Ashutosh Ranka, spokesperson of the social-media driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said after meeting government ministers.
The announcement followed a dramatic development in the standoff: Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said he had resigned this morning, delivering what protesters had framed as their central demand after examination paper leaks.
Mr Pradhan posted the resignation on X earlier today, at the same time police fired tear gas to disperse young demonstrators gathered in New Delhi.
“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,” Mr Pradhan wrote in his post.
“I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth.”
As word of the resignation spread, cheers rang out among thousands of CJP supporters who had been rallying in central Delhi and in other locations.
In an effort to curb momentum in the capital, federal authorities had restricted internet access and limited entry to 18 metro stations.
Tensions had intensified since Monday, when police injured many students, using baton charges and tear gas to break up crowds marching toward parliament.
Driven largely by young people, the protests were sparked by frustration over leaks of question papers for high-stakes entrance exams, and have widened into a broader outcry about job scarcity, corruption and government accountability.
