New Delhi, July 26 (dpa/GNA) – Following the resignation of the Indian education minister, the “Cockroach” movement has announced the end of its protests against irregularities in the education system.
“We call on all demonstrators to go home, as the government has accepted our demands,” a spokesman for the Cockroach People’s Party (CJP) said after talks with government representatives in New Delhi. The protests would end with immediate effect.
Earlier, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had bowed to pressure from the movement and announced his resignation. This followed weeks of protests.
On Saturday, thousands of CJP supporters had initially gathered in New Delhi. Pradhan’s resignation was a key demand of the CJP. In their view, the minister should take political responsibility for the fact that documents relating to a university entrance exam had been leaked.
Most recently, street protests in New Delhi had led to serious clashes between CJP supporters and the police. Announcing his resignation, Pradhan wrote on X, “I have great respect for the legitimate expectations of this country’s youth.” The Education Minister said that he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The CJP was founded in May, after a chief justice referred to unemployed young people as cockroaches. It describes itself as a “satirical political movement” and organizes its activities primarily online.
Observers say the protest movement has developed into a major challenge for the government, which has offered to hold talks with its representatives.
GNA