Mumbai Protesters Mark Education Minister's Resignation, Push for Systemic Changes
Mumbai: As Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation on Saturday, a protest against the NEET paper leak in Bandra transformed into a gathering where participants expressed satisfaction over what they considered a milestone in their movement.
Crowds assembled along the Bandstand Promenade, waving the national flag and holding up copies of the Constitution. While many welcomed the resignation, they emphasised that it represented only the beginning of a broader demand for reforms in the education sector.
“This moment is significant for Gen Z and civil society, but there is still a long way to go. We are calling for a complete overhaul of the education system in line with the demands of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP),” said 18-year-old university student Jannat Shaikh.
The gathering also fostered a sense of solidarity among the youth. “Everywhere you look, you find people with the same views and goals for the betterment of society. This movement has brought the community together, giving people a sense of belonging and showing that democracy can deliver results,” said 27-year-old Saahir, who attended with his family.
Nikhat Ansari, a second-year BA English student, described her experience at the protest. “While police appeared to be detaining students, many quietly told us to keep sloganeering and continue raising our voices against the government,” she said.
Saturday’s event, organised by the Mumbai Congress under the banner ‘Stand with Students’, was addressed by Congress MP and Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad. She described Pradhan’s resignation as a victory for the country’s youth and a defeat of ego. “Gen Z has signalled a call for the end of dictatorship,” Gaikwad said, criticising the Union government.
Student organisations are also planning a victory march on Sunday at Dadar’s Shivaji Park. They are demanding the withdrawal of legal action taken against hundreds of students who participated in earlier protests.
Samya Korde from the Progressive Students Union (PSU) called the resignation a remarkable victory for youngsters. “The Maharashtra government must withdraw the FIRs against students. We appeal participants to bring their notices in a plastic folder to the victory march on Sunday,” Korde said.
The Mumbai Against Suppression of Students (MASS), a collective of student organisations, issued a statement demanding accountability for the alleged suppression of students during the July 20 march in Delhi. They called for all cases against students in Delhi and Mumbai to be dropped, and for punitive action against police officers for alleged brutality.
Student organisations also reported harassment. “A number of us received calls from Mumbai police warning us against participating in protests. In some cases, police visited the homes of young students to intimidate them. Others were asked to share live locations to instil fear,” said a MASS member.
