Delhi Police Announce End of 36-Day Student Protest After Education Minister's Resignation

Moments after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, police at Jantar Mantar made a surprise announcement on Saturday, urging student protesters to return home. The declaration, broadcast via loudspeakers, stated that the government had accepted all demands and that the agitation was over.

The announcement echoed across Tolstoy Road, where thousands of students had gathered for the 36-day protest organised by the CJP. Police vehicles fitted with loudspeakers moved through the area, repeatedly asking the crowd to disperse peacefully.

Many protesters initially expressed disbelief and sought confirmation. Vani Dev, a 22-year-old from Dehradun, said she called a friend at the protest site to verify the news. Anchal, a 17-year-old from Paschim Vihar, said she learned of the development from reporters after her phone battery died.

Police also reopened all gates of Rajiv Chowk metro station and announced that 18 metro stations on the Blue, Yellow, Violet, and Airport Express lines, which had been closed since morning, were now operating normally. However, some commuters reported confusion at Mandi House and Central Secretariat stations, where exit gates remained temporarily closed. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation later confirmed that all stations had resumed normal entry and exit.

CJP volunteers assisted police and the Rapid Action Force in guiding students toward transit points. Despite appeals to disperse, roads around Jantar Mantar remained crowded as students celebrated, exchanged sweets, and took photographs.

Anchal expressed hope that next year's NEET exam would not face any leaks, a key demand of the protest.