Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a "symbolic" but important step towards restoring India's education system, while insisting that action must still be taken against officials responsible for the alleged crackdown on students and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to the protesters.
Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, marking a rare instance of a senior minister in the Modi government stepping down following sustained public protests and mounting political pressure.
In a video message, Rahul Gandhi said, "Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is a huge step in rebuilding our education system. It's a symbolic step because he was a symbol, but it is still a big step."
He congratulated the students and young people who took part in the protests, praising them for defending democracy, the Constitution and the country's future.
"I want to congratulate every single student, every single youngster who came out on the streets and fought for democracy, fought for the future of this country and defended the Constitution. I'm proud of you. Well done," Gandhi said.
He added that the resignation also carried a wider message for other sections of society.
According to Gandhi, the development should encourage farmers, labourers, the poor and others who, in his view, were facing oppression, to stand up without fear.
"It's also a signal to other parts of society, farmers, labourers, poor people, anybody who this regime is attacking and oppressing. There is wisdom and courage in standing up. Don't fear. Let's get rid of this regime, this regime that is attacking India, destroying our Constitution, capturing all our institutions," he said.
Rahul Gandhi maintained that Pradhan's resignation did not mark the end of the issue, saying two key demands remained unresolved.
The first, he said, was accountability for those responsible for the alleged use of force against students.
"Let me remind the government, there are still two demands outstanding. The first one, and most important one, is that anybody who has raised a finger on our students, beaten them or shot at them has to be held accountable. The people who organised it and the people who implemented it all have to be punished," Gandhi said.
He also renewed his demand for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"And the final demand is that the Prime Minister of India, out of respect for the students of India and out of respect for the future of India, has to apologise to the students who were brutalised and attacked," Gandhi said.
