Cinema VinesOn July 25, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan handed in his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after weeks of nationwide student protests over alleged leaks of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) papers and other examination irregularities. The protests, which have been marching on the lawns of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for nearly a month, were organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and gained further traction when educator and activist Sonam Wangchuk joined a 26‑day hunger strike.
The resignation has drawn reactions from a wide spectrum of public figures, including Bollywood stars and political commentators. Priyanka Chopra posted celebratory emojis on Instagram in response to the resignation, while singer Armaan Malik tweeted “Power of the youth.” Actor Prakash Raj, who has been a regular at the Jantar Mantar rallies, wrote a congratulatory message to the students and to Wangchuk, saying, “Congratulations ❤️❤️❤️ my Dear Cockroaches… You Have proved that you can bring a regime down to its knees.”
Other celebrities weighed in as well. Vijay Varma shared a lyric from the film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil on Instagram, and actress Tillotama Shome called the resignation a historic moment for the youth, urging that “Youth is wasted on the young.” Telugu filmmaker Rahul Ravindran posted a reflective piece, noting that while a resignation is not a cause for celebration, it is crucial for establishing accountability at the highest levels of public service. He highlighted systemic issues such as the shortage of teachers and lack of basic facilities in rural schools.
The resignation follows a period of intense scrutiny over the NEET examination process, with students demanding transparency and reforms in India’s education system. The protests have continued to draw attention to the broader challenges facing the country’s educational infrastructure, as well as the need for greater oversight and integrity in national examinations.
