New Delhi, July 25 (PTI) Celebrations broke out at the Jantar Mantar protest site on Saturday after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the NEET paper leak row, with protesters dancing, cheering, waving the tricolour and raising slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’.
Protesters, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), were seen hugging each other and dancing on stage to the patriotic song ‘Chak De! India’.
Many held up portraits and posters of Dr B R Ambedkar as the gathering celebrated the minister’s resignation, which they described as a victory for their agitation.
Addressing the gathering, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the resignation demonstrated the strength of democratic protest.
“They used to say that this government does not see resignations. We say the world bends if there is someone who can make it bend,” he told the crowd.
Dipke, however, said the agitation would continue despite Pradhan’s resignation. He demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who died by suicide in connection with the examination controversy and sought action against police personnel over their conduct during the protests on July 20.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Dipke said, “If you had not called us ‘cockroaches’, I would not have returned to India. If you had not called us ‘cockroaches’, the youth of the country would not have come out on the streets. If you had not called us ‘cockroaches’, Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation would not have happened.” The remarks drew loud cheers from the gathering as celebrations continued under heightened security arrangements at the protest site.
Pradhan resigned from the Union Cabinet, saying the NEET paper leak was not a matter of “individual prestige” for him and that he had taken responsibility for the issue from “day one”. He also cautioned people against anti-national forces exploiting the situation. PTI MSJ PRK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.