Dharmendra Pradhan resigns as student celebrate over victory of agitation, Sukhu Leads Candlelight March in Shimla
Shimla, July 25
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid mounting nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak, a development student organisations described as the first major victory of their month-long agitation demanding accountability and reforms in the country’s examination system.
The resignation coincided with a candlelight march in Shimla led by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who joined leaders of the Congress, CPI(M), students and members of the public in expressing solidarity with students protesting across the country.
The procession began at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, passed through Scandal Point and concluded at the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Ridge, where participants raised slogans demanding justice for students.
During the programme, the Chief Minister administered the oath of the Preamble to the Constitution to those gathered.
Addressing mediapersons, Mr. Sukhu said the march had been organised with the cooperation of various political parties to support students who had been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He said the people of Himachal Pradesh stood firmly with the youth fighting for justice and demanded complete transparency in all competitive examinations so that deserving candidates receive the rewards of their hard work.
The Chief Minister demanded compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide in connection with the NEET examination controversy. He also targeted the BJP, alleging that paper leak incidents had repeatedly surfaced in BJP-ruled states. Referring to Himachal Pradesh, he said the previous BJP government had witnessed the police recruitment examination paper leak and irregularities in examinations conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission.
He said the present Congress government dissolved the commission after assuming office, constituted the State Selection Commission and ensured action against those responsible.
Mr. Sukhu said Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had consistently supported the students’ movement and stressed that protecting the future of young people through a fair and transparent examination system was a national priority. He thanked the CPI(M), Congress workers and members of the public for participating in the march.
Earlier in the day, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) declared Mr. Pradhan’s resignation a victory for the student movement but said the struggle was far from over. In a statement issued by the SFI University Unit and SFI Shimla Urban Committee, the organisation said student protests had continued for nearly a month at Jantar Mantar and in different parts of the country against alleged paper leaks and irregularities in competitive examinations.
The SFI noted that it had been holding a relay hunger strike outside the office of the Shimla Deputy Commissioner since July 20, demanding Mr. Pradhan’s resignation, comprehensive education reforms and action against examination irregularities. With the resignation of the Union Education Minister, the organisation announced the withdrawal of its hunger strike in Shimla, describing the development as only a partial victory.
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The organisation said its movement would continue until the National Testing Agency (NTA) was repealed, comprehensive reforms were introduced in the examination system and compensation of ₹5 crore was provided to the families of students who allegedly lost their lives due to the examination crisis. It announced plans to intensify its campaign through protests in colleges and districts across Himachal Pradesh.
The developments marked a significant escalation in the nationwide agitation over examination integrity, with student organisations asserting that the resignation reflected the growing pressure created by sustained protests and public support for demands to restore transparency and credibility in India’s competitive examination system.
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