Indian education minister resigns after days of youth protests

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, yielding to weeks of nationwide youth protests demanding his ouster over examination paper leaks. The demonstrators, organized under the banner of the 'Cockroach Movement,' had called for Pradhan's resignation due to his alleged responsibility for leaked exam papers.

The minister announced his resignation via the social media platform X, shortly before police used tear gas to disperse young protesters in the capital, Delhi. This action occurred just hours before protest leaders were scheduled to resume negotiations with government representatives regarding Pradhan's removal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the protests for the first time, acknowledging the strain they have placed on his government. He pledged to establish fast-track courts to handle cases of leaked examination materials, stating that the future of the youth is paramount and those who endanger it will be held accountable.

The 'Cockroach Movement,' a coalition primarily of young people, has been at the forefront of the demonstrations since last month. The protests were ignited by scandals surrounding repeated examination irregularities, including a medical entrance exam whose papers were leaked before the scheduled date, forcing over two million applicants to retake the test. Further issues arose from the online evaluation of exams for nearly two million other students.

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There is nothing more important than the future of the youth. Those who endanger it must be held accountable.