Celebrations erupted at Jantar Mantar on Saturday after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation, following which supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party, students, and activists gathered at the protest site, raising slogans and calling the development a victory for students who had been demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke addressed the gathering shortly after the resignation was announced and while acknowledging the moment as an important milestone, he said the movement was also a time to remember the students who lost their lives during the course of the controversy.
Dipke paid tribute to the students who died by suicide following the alleged NEET paper leak, saying their memories should not be forgotten and said the protest was not just about a minister's resignation but about seeking justice and ensuring that such incidents do not happen again.
The atmosphere at Jantar Mantar was a mix of celebration and emotion as protesters waved flags, chanted slogans, and embraced one another after the announcement and many also observed a moment of silence in memory of the students who lost their lives.
The resignation came just hours before the scheduled third round of talks between the Centre and representatives of the CJP and discussions are expected to focus on the demands raised by protesting students, including action against those responsible for the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and measures to strengthen transparency in future exams.