India’s ‘Cockroach’ movement withdraws protests after education minister resigns

New Delhi: India’s youth-led ‘Cockroach’ movement on Saturday announced the withdrawal of its 37-day protest after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government accepted its all demands, including compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the NEET examination paper leak and the withdrawal of police cases against protester.

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The agitation intensified on July 20 when thousands of protesters marched toward Parliament during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ rally. Police used tear gas, batons to disperse demonstrators, triggering widespread criticism and drawing national attention to the movement. 

The movement was sparked after question papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), one of India’s most competitive medical entrance examinations, were leaked earlier this year. The controversy forced authorities to conduct a re-examination on June 21, affecting nearly two million candidates and fuelling frustration among students over repeated failures in the country’s examination system.

Pradhan’s resignation came as a surprise to many political observers, as Prime Minister Modi has often been viewed as reluctant to remove ministers under public pressure.

In a post on X announcing his decision, Pradhan said he had resigned to prevent the ongoing situation from being exploited.

“Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation … I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister,” he wrote.

He added that he deeply respected “the aspirations, feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country’s youth.”

Soon after the announcement, celebrations broke out at the protest site in central Delhi. Thousands of young demonstrators gathered at Jantar Mantar, chanting slogans, waving flags and celebrating what they described as a victory for student unity.

“We have done it,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told cheering supporters after the resignation became public.
Caption: Later in the day, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Minister of State Jitendra Singh held a joint press conference with CJP representatives following the third round of discussions between the government and protest leaders.

Nadda said “the government had accepted all major demands raised by the protesters. These include reforms to India’s examination system, compensation for families of students who died by suicide after the NEET paper leak controversy, and the withdrawal of police cases registered against protesters.”

Following the meeting, CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das announced that the movement would withdraw its agitation.

“Cockroach Janata Party declares that we withdraw the agitation in good faith, with the understanding that the agreed-upon terms will be executed within the agreed-upon timelines,” Das told reporters at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.

The organisation said the government had assured it that suitable compensation would be provided to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide. The government also agreed to withdraw First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against protesters across the country following the July 20 demonstrations.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the group had originally demanded ₹1 crore in compensation for each affected family.

“The government has agreed that honorary compensation will be provided under applicable rules and regulations,” Ranka said.

He added that the movement had also submitted a broader five-point charter seeking structural reforms in India’s education and examination system.

According to Ranka, both sides agreed to hold another round of discussions in about four weeks to review progress on those reforms.

“All our demands have been accepted, so we request the protesters to withdraw immediately and return home peacefully,” he said.

Das said the government had also agreed to withdraw FIRs filed not only in Delhi but also in BJP-ruled and BJP-allied states where protesters faced legal action.

He said government officials had assured the movement that copies of the FIRs would be shared within the next few days and that a written guarantee regarding their withdrawal and future legal action would be provided by Tuesday.

The Cockroach movement has emerged as one of the most prominent youth-led protest campaigns in India in recent years. What began as a campaign over examination irregularities gradually expanded into wider demands for transparency, educational reforms and greater government accountability.

The protests highlighted growing concerns among young Indians over employment opportunities, educational fairness and public institutions. Similar youth-driven protest movements have led to major political changes in neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in recent years.

While the demonstrations have now been suspended, CJP leaders said the movement has not ended permanently. Instead, they described the withdrawal as a gesture of trust, with future action depending on whether the government fulfils its commitments on compensation, legal relief and long-term education reforms.

For now, the end of the 37-day protest marks a temporary pause in a movement that has become one of the defining youth-led political mobilisations during Prime Minister Modi’s third term in office.

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