India’s Cockroach Movement Forces Education Minister’s Resignation

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned following a week of nationwide protests over an exam leak scandal that sparked widespread outrage and intensified calls for accountability.

The demonstrations, led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), drew hundreds of thousands of students into the streets after leaked entrance and government job examinations forced millions to retake tests. Indian media have linked the pressure surrounding the scandal to the suicides of more than a dozen students.

In his resignation letter, Pradhan said he stepped down to prevent what he described as “anti-national forces” from taking advantage of the unrest. He also acknowledged the frustrations of India’s youth, saying he respected their aspirations and concerns.

The resignation marks the first time in more than a decade that a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has stepped down following sustained public protests.

The movement takes its name from a judge’s controversial remark describing unemployed young people as “cockroaches” and “parasites.” Organizers embraced the label and turned it into a nationwide campaign demanding Pradhan’s resignation, reforms to India’s education system, compensation for families of students who died by suicide, and protections for protesters.

The protests gained momentum after police used tear gas and batons to disperse largely peaceful demonstrators in New Delhi, prompting larger crowds to join rallies across the country.

Following Pradhan’s resignation, the Cockroach Janta Party announced it was suspending its demonstrations after entering talks with government officials, calling the minister’s departure “a victory for democracy.”