"Subah ho gayi mamu," Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke declared on Saturday, invoking the famous Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. dialogue to take a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi moments after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation. The remark, delivered from the stage at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, drew loud applause as supporters celebrated what Dipke described as a "victory of democracy."
Addressing hundreds of protesters, Dipke said Pradhan's resignation was the result of sustained student demonstrations over the NEET paper leak controversy. He described the development as evidence of the strength of peaceful democratic protests and public participation.
"This is democracy. He has resigned... Remember, do not mess with cockroaches," Dipke told supporters before dropping to his knees in celebration as protesters embraced each other and danced to the patriotic song Chak De! India.
He said the resignation showed that determined citizens who refused to be intimidated could hold even the most powerful leaders accountable.
Taking another swipe at Prime Minister Modi, Dipke remarked, "Narendra Modiji, democracy has dawned, mamu. This is only the beginning, just the first wicket. The fight is far from over."
He also said that while many believed ministers in the current government never resigned, the movement had demonstrated that persistence could make even the seemingly impossible happen.
Repeating a popular Hindi saying, Dipke remarked, "People used to say resignations never happen in this government. The world bends—you just need someone who can make it bend." He described the development as the first resignation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's current government.
Protesters led by the CJP celebrated by hugging one another and dancing on stage as Chak De! India played in the background.
Dipke urged supporters to remain committed to the movement, stressing that Pradhan's resignation fulfilled only one of its objectives.
He said the agitation would continue until two additional demands were met: ₹1 crore in compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide during the NEET controversy, and action against police personnel involved in the July 20 crackdown on protesters.
"There is no need to be afraid. This is democracy. He has resigned, but we still have two more demands," Dipke said, insisting that the families deserved compensation and that police officers responsible for the alleged violence should face action.
CJP spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were also present at Jantar Mantar when news of the resignation emerged.
Reacting to the development, Ranka said the movement was aimed not merely at securing one resignation but at bringing about broader reforms in India's education system.
Das echoed that sentiment, warning authorities not to underestimate the concerns of young people.
"Do not mess with the younger generation," he said.
The CJP leadership also stated that it had submitted three principal demands to the government and would end the protest only after receiving written assurances.
Ranka said permission had been sought to organise a peaceful nationwide candle march at 6 pm.
"If our three demands are accepted in writing, we will return home," he said, reiterating that the broader goal remained improving India's education system.
Das said the government had invited CJP leaders for another round of talks at 3.30 pm but maintained that protesters would not leave Jantar Mantar until every demand had been accepted in writing.
"We're not going anywhere until all our demands are met in writing. This is a huge victory," he said.
During his speech, Dipke also remembered students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy and requested the gathering to observe a two-minute silence in their memory.
Pradhan's resignation came only hours before the Centre and the CJP were scheduled to hold their third round of negotiations. Protest leaders had consistently maintained that the Education Minister's resignation was a non-negotiable demand and central to resolving the agitation.
In his resignation letter, Pradhan said he had stepped down to protect students' interests and to ensure that "anti-national forces" did not exploit the situation. He also wrote that the decision was "not a matter of personal prestige" and that he had been deeply saddened by developments over the previous ten days.
The NEET-UG paper leak controversy sparked nationwide protests, with students and Opposition parties accusing the government of failing to safeguard the integrity of one of India's most important entrance examinations.
Pradhan's resignation marks a rare instance of a senior minister in the Modi government stepping down following sustained public protests and mounting political pressure over alleged irregularities in a national examination.
