Dharmendra Pradhan resigns after exam leak protests, AAP calls it youth victory

AAP leaders welcomed Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation after protests over alleged exam paper leaks. They called it a victory for students and said public pressure can force accountability.

In Short

• Protests over alleged exam leaks intensified after irregularities surfaced in NEET
• Kejriwal said public pressure proved governments must answer people's concerns
• Sanjay Singh linked the campaign against paper leaks to jobs accountability

Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Saturday welcomed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation amid protests over alleged paper leaks in competitive examinations, calling it a victory for students, youth and democracy. The party said the move showed that governments must respond to public pressure.

The resignation came amid mounting pressure over irregularities in the conduct of several competitive exams, especially the medical entrance examination NEET. Pradhan said he was disturbed by the series of events over the past 10 days and had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal described the resignation as a "big win for democracy" and said the government should listen to people's voices. He said the development had restored faith in democracy by showing that governments must ultimately heed the public, and expressed hope that the government would now reform the examination system, prevent future paper leaks and ensure that no child is again driven to die by suicide. "Democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people. I hope the government will now fix the entire NEET system so that paper leaks come to an end in this country and our children never again have to take their own lives," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the youth-led movement had compelled the government to accept the minister's resignation. He said the campaign that began against paper leaks would now extend to employment, and called for accountability for "every mistake". Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai also called the resignation a major victory for the country's students and youth, saying, "The movement won, arrogance lost."

Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said many believed that resignations do not happen under the Narendra Modi government, but added that the Gen Z-led movement at Jantar Mantar had achieved the impossible. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi also called the resignation a victory for the country's youth and said that "youth power has prevailed", congratulating those who took part in the movement. Former Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia said it was the first major victory in the struggle of millions of young people across the country and congratulated the protesters. AAP spokesperson Sanjeev Jha said the resignation reflected the strength of democratic protest and youth unity, and added that the month-long agitation, despite hardships and police action, had ultimately forced the government to act.

The AAP said Pradhan's resignation was the result of sustained protests over alleged paper leaks and exam irregularities, and voiced hope that the government would now act to reform the system and prevent such controversies in future.

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With inputs from PTI