Social activist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday welcomed the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, describing it as a "victory of democracy" after months of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak controversy.
Reacting to the development in a post on X, Wangchuk said the resignation reflected the power of peaceful public participation and democratic action. He hailed the sustained movement led by students and civil society groups, saying it demonstrated that patience and perseverance can bring about accountability.
"It's a victory of democracy. Direct democracy, straight from the streets. It's a victory of peace, patience, and perseverance," Wangchuk wrote.
Congratulating the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Gen Z protesters, and citizens who participated in demonstrations across the country, Wangchuk said the movement had entered a new phase. According to him, the immediate objective of securing accountability had been achieved, and attention should now shift towards bringing comprehensive reforms to India's education system.
"Congratulations, CJP and Gen Z of the nation, and thank you to all citizens for shedding fear, and the fear of fear, and rising up from every corner of the nation. From accountability, now to reforms," he said.
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the Union Education Minister on Saturday following months of protests by students demanding action over alleged paper leaks, examination irregularities, and concerns surrounding the NEET examination. His resignation came just hours before the third round of talks between government representatives and protest leaders and fulfilled the principal demand of demonstrators who had been staging protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Pradhan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announced the decision through his X account, marking a significant turning point in the nationwide agitation that had drawn participation from students, youth organisations, and activists from across the country.
Sonam Wangchuk had emerged as one of the prominent public figures supporting the protest movement. On June 28, he began an indefinite hunger strike demanding Pradhan's resignation and calling for sweeping reforms in India's education system to ensure greater transparency and accountability in public examinations.
His fast continued for 26 days before ending on Thursday night after the government reportedly offered a series of assurances. These included a parliamentary discussion on the NEET paper leak issue, a commitment that no legal action would be taken against protesting students, and financial assistance for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide in connection with the examination controversy.
With the resignation now complete, Wangchuk has urged the movement to maintain its momentum while directing its energy toward long-term institutional reforms. He emphasized that strengthening examination systems, restoring public trust, and ensuring fairness in competitive exams should become the next priorities in the campaign for educational reform.
The resignation of the Education Minister has been widely viewed as one of the most significant political outcomes of the student-led protests, with supporters of the movement calling it a milestone in the demand for greater transparency and accountability in India's education system.
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