As chants echoed through the protest site, the main faces behind the movement described the resignation as a victory for democracy.
Within minutes of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced on the 10th of this month that it would withdraw its nationwide agitation with immediate effect. In Jantar Mantar, where the movement has camped out for weeks, the news was met with chants, patriotic songs and emotional celebrations as demonstrators celebrated what they described as a hard-won victory.
As chants echoed through the protest site, the main faces behind the movement described the resignation as a victory for democracy, while making clear that their fight for accountability and reforms is far from over.
Abhijeet Deepaki: Don’t make me a hero
CJP founding president Abhijit Debaki shared a video of himself receiving the news over a phone call, likely because internet services remain down around the Jantar Mantar protest site. Moments later, those on stage exploded in celebration, dancing and playing patriotic songs, including Jae Ho. Debke commented on the video, saying: “Democracy wins.”
Addressing his supporters, he said that the resignation refuted allegations that ministers never stepped down under the current government.
“What were they saying? No one resigns under this government. We want to say: The world is bending – you just need someone who can make it bend.” (Jukti hai dunya, jukkan wala hona shahiyi.)“
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But Debke urged his supporters not to turn the moment into a personality cult.
“I want to say something very important. Don’t make me a hero because Dharmendra Pradhan resigned today. Don’t make this mistake. Don’t make me a hero because Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. The country has been ruined by making one person a hero,” he said from the Jantar Mantar stage.
Sourav Das: “This is just a trailer”
Describing the resignation as just the beginning, Sourav Das said the movement will now expand its focus to include issues affecting youth across the country.
He told reporters shortly after the announcement: “This is just a propaganda show. The picture is not there yet. The youth of the country have woken up. The youth of the country will solve all the problems in this country. As a party, as a movement, it is clear that this is not going to end. Now we will go across the country, listen to the youth, put forward the best policies for them, and continue to demand accountability from everyone. This is just the beginning. There is a lot more that we need to do.”
Ashutosh Ranka: “The youth of this country have woken up”
National spokesman Ashutosh Ranka described the resignation as a victory for the students who had been fighting for accountability after repeated allegations of paper leakage.
“The youth of this country have woken up. They have fought for their rights. They have fought for what is right. Today, our demands have finally been accepted,” he said.
Remembering the families affected by the controversy, Ranka added, “We are thinking of all those families who lost their near and dear ones after the paper leak. We are thinking of those thousands and crores of students whose future has been ruined due to these paper leaks. We truly hope that some justice will be done today.”
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Looking to the future, he said the organization would continue to raise issues for youth across the country. “Whoever the next education minister is, we hope he will do his job honestly and responsibly. We will go across the country and raise other issues, just as we raised the issue of education. For the sake of the youth of this country, we will do whatever it takes.”
In X, Ranka summed up the moment in three words: “The power of the common man.”
Sonam Wangchuk: “It is a victory for democracy”
The CJP protests gained momentum nationwide after climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike in Jantar Mantar last month. His fast attracted large crowds and support from many opposition leaders and public figures.
Reacting to Pradhan’s resignation, Wangchuk described it as a victory for peaceful public action.
“It is a victory for democracy. Direct democracy… straight from the streets. It is a victory for peace, patience and perseverance. Congratulations to the Communist People’s Party, Generation Z of the nation, and thank you to all citizens for shedding fear and fear and rising from every corner of the nation. From accountability, now to reforms.”
Neha Bora: “This victory belongs to the movement”
Wangchuk was joined during the protest by three students from the All India Students Association (AISA) – Neha Bora, Manish Kumar and Amin Amitog – who also fasted indefinitely before calling off their strike earlier.
In response to the resignation, Bora first posted a short message on X: “And we won.”
She later said: “This victory is evidence of the dictators’ loss to the youth and mass movements.”
In another post, she attributed the success to the collective struggle of protesters over the past few weeks.
“This victory is the victory of a 36-day movement, this victory is the victory of a 23-day hunger strike, this victory belongs to all those people who kept moving forward despite police batons and tear gas. This victory is the victory of our collective resolve that has not broken despite all the efforts of the BJP,” he said.
(With agency input)
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