This is proof that if you are not afraid, you can win, says Dipke on Pradhan’s resignation

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and others celebrate at a protest site after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI

A crowd cheered and chanted slogans at a protest site at Jantar Mantar on Saturday (July 25, 2026) after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation.

This is the first goal. We won’t stop here. This is just the beginning. Hello to all the students, all the volunteers who have been sitting here for the last 36 days pic.twitter.com/4qerlaMP6v

— The cockroach is back (@Cockroachisback) July 25, 2026

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke joined the crowd from the stage, waving the tricolor and singing AR Rahman’s Vande Mataram.

Mr Dipke told the protesters: “Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned and this is proof that if you are not afraid you can win.” “You shouldn’t be afraid to speak up in a democracy. Only if you raise your voice will they stay in line because they are in power because of us.”

“This is the first goal. We will not stop here. This is just the beginning. I salute all the students and all the volunteers who have been sitting here for the last 36 days,” he added.

However, Mr. Dipke announced that the protest would continue despite the resignation notice.

DEMOCRACY WINS! 🇮🇳

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. pic.twitter.com/DsB6hCHUzP

— Cockroach Janta Party (@CJP_for_India) July 25, 2026

On X, he posted a picture of himself holding the Constitution of India and wrote “thank you”.

“We have two more demands. We will not go like this. We are cockroaches. Once it enters, it will not leave. There has only been one resignation so far. Don’t mess with that cockroach,” he said.

Apart from Mr. Pradhan’s resignation, the CJP is demanding compensation of ₹1 million to the families of students who died of suicide allegedly due to the NEET paper leak controversy and criminal prosecution against those responsible for the alleged leak. The CJP also insisted that no action should be taken against the protesters and demanded a public apology from the RAF and Delhi Police for the attacks on students during a parliamentary march earlier this week.

Mr Dipke described Mr Pradhan’s resignation as the “first victory” of the movement, but reiterated that the remaining demands – compensation to bereaved families and action against those responsible for the alleged paper leak – were yet to be met.

Thank you pic.twitter.com/AfQVVVTa10

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 25, 2026

“The families of the students who committed suicide should be given compensation. Action should be taken against the police personnel who committed the atrocities,” he said.

At around 2:00 pm, before the resignation was announced, minor clashes were reported between protesters and security personnel outside the Jantar Mantar protest venue towards Sansad Marg.

Eyewitnesses told The Hindu that the police resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the protesters.

The CJP started protesting at Jantar Mantar on June 20.

Published – 25 Jul 2026 16:27 IST