Protest Concludes After Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns
The chants that had echoed for 36 days at Jantar Mantar fell silent on Sunday, with calm descending over the protest site after the agitation over irregularities in exams and the NEET paper leak ended. The protest concluded on Saturday following the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) confirmed.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who led the movement, is now recovering from typhoid at his home. Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, who had undertaken an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity, remains hospitalised at Medanta Hospital, where his condition is improving.
Deserted Site After Month-Long Agitation
The sprawling protest site in central New Delhi, which had teemed with activists, tents, and banners since June 20, now lay deserted. The makeshift tents had disappeared, volunteers and supporters had dispersed, and the only activity was by civic workers clearing the remnants.
Dipke, in a video message, described his relief: “It feels really good. Today, finally, I could go to sleep and wake up in the bedroom without thinking about what to do next or what will happen till evening. There is no panic.”
The protest, which began on June 20, intensified after police action against demonstrators and drew support from student organisations and activists, notably Wangchuk, who joined with a prolonged fast.
Government Meets All Remaining Demands
The CJP declared on Saturday evening that it was withdrawing the agitation after the government agreed to all remaining demands, including compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak and withdrawal of FIRs against protesters.
Describing the last 36 days as “really, really difficult,” Dipke thanked supporters across the country for standing by the fledgling outfit despite scepticism about its campaign. “I want to thank each and every supporter… the people who supported us, showed their trust in us and loved us when everybody was doubting us. Without you guys, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this,” he said.
Dipke Apologizes for Not Meeting Supporters
Dipke also apologised to supporters who gathered at Jantar Mantar on Saturday after the protest ended, explaining he could not meet them because he was suffering from typhoid with a fever of 101 degrees. “I have typhoid… That’s why I had to come home,” he said, thanking those who stayed at the site throughout the agitation.
In a conciliatory message, Dipke thanked critics of the movement as well. “The people who doubted us, criticised us or questioned us… I want to thank them as well. If you hadn’t criticised us, we wouldn’t have been able to improve,” he said.
CJP Looks to Future, Wangchuk Recovers
Calling the campaign “just the beginning,” Dipke said the CJP had “a long way to go.” Meanwhile, Wangchuk, who joined the agitation with an indefinite fast and was later hospitalised, continues to recover at Medanta Hospital.
Clean-Up Operation Removes 60 Tonnes of Waste
As the protest concluded, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) launched a massive round-the-clock clean-up operation at and around Jantar Mantar. Over 100 sanitation workers, heavy vehicles, and mechanised equipment were deployed to clear nearly 60 metric tonnes of waste left behind. Officials said around 52 metric tonnes had been removed by Sunday afternoon.
“Roads were being washed with pressure-jetting machines, while walls bearing protest slogans were repainted and damaged footpaths and curbstones repaired to restore the area after protesters dispersed,” an NDMC official stated.
