Pradhan resigns as government yields to CJP demands, sources cite political capital erosion

The resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday (July 25, 2026) was driven not by security concerns but by the erosion of the ruling party's political capital due to the large, organic crowds gathering at Jantar Mantar, government sources told The Hindu.

The continuous sit-in protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which began on June 13, was called off on Saturday after the government accepted its demands, including the withdrawal of criminal cases against protesters and the resignation of Mr. Pradhan.

Following the July 20 march to Parliament, during which unarmed protesters were beaten by police, the Union government had made elaborate security arrangements to manage the crowd at Jantar Mantar, the protest site in central Delhi.

An analysis of social media chatter, which contained critical remarks against the Prime Minister after videos of police action against students surfaced, also influenced the government's decision to concede to the CJP's demands, sources said.

“The police were underprepared on July 20 as the crowd, which reached the protest site after a call by the CJP, was much larger than initially estimated. However, there was little concern that the protests could lead to a Nepal- or Bangladesh-like situation, as the crowds were largely organic and socially diverse. Some unruly elements were present, but the police had taken adequate measures post-July 20,” a government source said.

At least eight Internet shutdown orders were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs between July 20 and July 25, blocking communication within a 1.5 km radius around Jantar Mantar. An Internet ban was also imposed briefly on July 18 when activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for more than 20 days, was forcibly removed from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital by the police.

“The police were prepared to handle the crowd at Jantar Mantar for the next few days, coinciding with the ongoing Parliament session. The gathering was largely peaceful, and the possibility of unruly elements trying to take advantage of the situation is always there,” another government source said.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said on Saturday that the CJP delegation submitted a written proposal covering cases related to the agitation along with its five-point charter. “The government assured the team that no action will be taken against the organisers and protesters, and no new cases will be registered in connection with the agitation. It also expressed condolences to the families of the students who lost their lives and assured them of the highest possible compensation as per the rules,” Mr. Nadda said, adding that discussions will continue with the delegation. This was Mr. Nadda’s third meeting with the delegation.

For a first information report (FIR) to be cancelled, the Delhi Police will have to withdraw the case and send a report to the court indicating it no longer wishes to pursue the case.