CJP Protest Highlights: Will live up to PM's expectations, says new Education Minister Pralhad Joshi

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Bomma Mahesh Kumar Goud said Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation was a victory for the student community. Drawing a comparison with the repeal of the farm laws, he said people in a democracy do not remain silent when governments act against public interest. Goud expressed solidarity with the protesting students and said the Congress was demonstrating in support of their demands.

Telangana Minister Anasuya Seethakka said Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation should have come three months ago. She said the students' protest demonstrated their strength, alleged that the Modi government adopted a dictatorial approach, and added that the students had ultimately succeeded in their movement.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday said he accepted the additional charge of the Education Ministry with "a sense of duty and humility" and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing faith in him.

Speaking after taking charge, Joshi said the Modi government had achieved several historic milestones over the past 12 years. He also praised his predecessor, Dharmendra Pradhan, for implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) and leading several key initiatives that, according to him, strengthened the country's education system.

Joshi said he would work under the Prime Minister's guidance and discharge his new responsibilities with dedication. "I will work to the best of my ability and fulfil my responsibilities with dedication," he said.

With ANI inputs

Cockroach Janta Party said it will meet the new Union Education Minister very soon.

Cockroach Janta Party Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das said the party would initiate legal action against police and RAF personnel accused of using excessive force during the protests. After meeting Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, Das said the party had launched a website to support its legal campaign and would seek FIRs against officers seen in videos or photographs allegedly assaulting protesters. He added that the party was prepared to approach the courts and pursue jail terms for officials found responsible.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Sonam Wangchuk for what he described as a historic Gandhian satyagraha, saying the activist's 26-day fast for the country's youth awakened the nation and united people against overwhelming odds. Dipke called Wangchuk's protest a "pure and supreme sacrifice" and said it would be remembered in history as the moral force behind the movement, expressing deep gratitude for his contribution.

Cockroach Janta Party's official X handle, Cockroach is Back, shared a celebratory post featuring Activist Sonam Wangchuk and Abhijeet Dipke after Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, writing, "Two patients, one victory, all smiles," in an apparent reference to the protest leaders who had been hospitalised during the agitation.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai hailed Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a major victory for democracy and the youth of the country. He credited the students for sustaining the protest and said the movement had achieved what no political party had been able to accomplish on its own.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led a solidarity march over the NEET issue, saying it was a tribute to students who died by suicide after the examination and those who continued their protest at Jantar Mantar despite facing police lathi charges. He said the state's children deserved support and that the Congress was holding the candle march in solidarity with the students.

Cockroach Janta Party National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said he did not think people in the country had "felt this happy in years" following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Calling it more than just a minister's exit, Ranka described it as the return of democracy and citizens reclaiming their rights and responsibilities. He said the 37-day movement would be remembered as a historic moment when the country's youth united to stand up for the nation.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said he would convene a special session of the state Assembly in the first week of August to pass a resolution seeking to lower the minimum age to contest Assembly and Lok Sabha elections from 25 to 21 years. Arguing that 21-year-olds are eligible to become IAS, IPS and IFS officers as well as local body representatives, he questioned why they cannot become MLAs or MPs. Reddy also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider global examples and said India's youth should be given greater opportunities in politics.

Cockroach Janta Party Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das said the party's key demands had been addressed and credited nationwide youth support for the success of the movement. He said whoever takes charge as the next Education Minister should work in the interest of students, prevent paper leaks and implement the party's five-point demand charter. Das added that the party would meet the new Education Minister soon, saying the government had assured them that a meeting would be held within a month.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra reacted to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation by sharing a quote from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on X. Quoting him, she wrote, "Narendra Modi is India's Past. The Past cannot fight the Future," and thanked Rahul Gandhi for what she described as a succinct truth.

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the sentiments of the country's youth must be respected and that no wrong message should be sent to them. Referring to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Khattar said he appreciated the decision taken by his Cabinet colleague.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hailed Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a victory of unity and public resolve, congratulating everyone who participated in or supported the movement. He said the students' success in the fight over examinations and education would pave the way for broader demands, including electoral reforms, action against corruption, protection of constitutional rights, an end to alleged misuse of bulldozers and encounters, and the defeat of divisive politics. He added that the victory marked the beginning of a new era of change.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday was assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education after President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers owing to widespread student-led protests across the nation over the NEET paper leak.

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MP Hanuman Beniwal said Dharmendra Pradhan should have been dismissed instead of resigning. Crediting students and youth for a "leaderless movement", he thanked those who faced police action and the political parties that supported the protests. Beniwal said the students had emerged victorious and claimed the development had shaken the Prime Minister and the BJP government, adding that more resignations and removals could follow.

Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav said the students' movement had forced the government to act, calling Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation a victory for the youth. He said that if India truly wants to realise its vision of becoming a developed nation during the "Amrit Kaal" and emerge as a global leader, the government must undertake sweeping reforms in the education and examination systems.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation was the result of the struggle and sacrifices of students across the country. Congratulating the youth, he said the development sent a clear message that the government could not act without accountability and that democracy must function within the framework of the Constitution. Owaisi also expressed hope that paper leaks in state and national examinations would not recur.