‘Dictatorship defeated!’: Chants, tricolour and dance at Jantar Mantar as Dharmendra Pradhan tenders resignation

Protesters led by the Cockroach Janta Party celebrated the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Jantar Mantar following the NEET paper leak scandal. While the resignation is viewed as a victory for the agitation, activists are continuing their demands for compensation and police accountability.
Why it matters
This event underscores the impact of grassroots activism and public pressure on government decision-making in the context of national examination integrity.
“Haar gaye, haar gaye, Tanashah haar gaye [dictator has been defeated]”, the crowd gathered at the Jantar Mantar protest site chanted, as news of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation reached the venue on Saturday (July 25, 2026).
Jantar Mantar protest updates on July 25, 2026
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday (July 25, 2026) over the NEET paper leak row, saying it is not a matter of “individual prestige” for him. Mr. Pradhan said he is disturbed to see the series of events that have unfolded in the last 10 days and sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, joined the crowd from the dais. Waving the tricolour, he sang A.R. Rahman’s rendition of Vande Mataram, as elsewhere the crowd danced to Chak De India.
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