Satirical Group Ends Protest After Education Minister Resigns, Government Accepts Demands Over NEET Leak

A satirical political group, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), ended its 36-day protest on Sunday after the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, meeting the group's primary demand over the NEET paper leak. The announcement was made during a joint press conference with government representatives.

CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, flanked by Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, stated that the protest was called off in good faith after the government agreed to all demands. These included the withdrawal of police cases against student protesters, assurances of no future action, and compensation for families of students who died by suicide due to the NEET paper leak.

"The government has accepted all our demands after 36 days of protest. We urge everyone to peacefully withdraw from the protest sites," said Ashutosh Ranka. Police used loudspeakers to ask protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, where the protest had caused disruptions to traffic and local businesses.

The CJP had also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for each victim's family, which the government agreed to provide under existing rules and regulations. Additionally, the government committed to withdrawing FIRs filed against protesters across BJP-ruled states, with copies to be shared within days.

Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation was accepted by the BJP leadership, with party chief Nitin Nabin praising his role in implementing the National Education Policy 2020. In his resignation letter, Pradhan cited his dedication to educational reform and respect for the youth's aspirations.

The CJP plans to meet the government again in four weeks to discuss broader educational and exam reforms. The protest, which began over the NEET paper leak, highlighted concerns about examination integrity and student safety.