Protesters End 36-Day Sit-in After Minister Resigns, Demands Accepted

After 36 days of continuous protest at Jantar Mantar, demonstrators began packing up on Friday following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the Centre's acceptance of key demands from the Confederation of Junior Pharmacists (CJP). The protest, which drew thousands of students, volunteers, and activists, had been ongoing since July 20 when the 'Sansad Chalo' march turned violent.

For Vidya Bhushan Kumar, a 30-year-old UPSC aspirant from Gaya, the minister's resignation made his weeks away from home worthwhile. He had been at the protest site since the violence on July 20, sleeping under a tent near the stage and making daily trips to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib for washroom facilities. 'Today they know why,' he said, referring to friends who had mocked his decision to stay.

Devashish Near, a 20-year-old NEET aspirant from Bareilly, arrived after his first attempt was cancelled and his re-test yielded lower marks. 'Today we won,' he said, planning to return home and prepare for another attempt. The protest also saw participation from older citizens like Ajitha K, 76, who travelled from Kozhikode, and Gurgaon-based homemaker Malika, who brought her 11-year-old son to show support.

Md Naved Khan, a Class 12 graduate, recalled being injured during the July 20 police action. After receiving four stitches, he returned to help rebuild the stage. At the medical camp, NEET aspirant Krishna Biswas assisted doctors with wound dressing. PhD scholar Sooraj Elamon of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) called the outcome 'a true reflection of what a student movement can lead to.'