Since coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Modi’s government has rarely tolerated dissent and harshly cracked down on protests, which is why Pradhan’s resignation is seen as a big deal in India.

But this is not the first time they have faced large protests, and it is not the first time they have been forced to back down. In 2021, the government repealed the farm laws after a year of farmers’ protests.

The students’ protest has resonated with a large section of India’s middle class, cutting across religious, caste and sectoral identities, with people expressing their anger at the lack of educational opportunities and jobs in India.

Pressure on the government increased after Monday’s violent crackdown, when police and paramilitary forces used batons and wooden sticks to beat young men and women, firing tear gas canisters at them.

About 300 people were taken to hospital. Police said at least half of those injured were security personnel and also arrested about 70 protesters; most of them have been released on bail.

After ignoring the protesters for nearly five weeks, Modi finally broke his silence on Thursday to say they had “decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and strict punishment for those involved in the paper leaks.”

And later that night, Modi posted a video message saying that a strict new law on exam leaks was in the works. He said he had received a bill that they wanted to present in parliament soon.

Following Pradhan’s resignation, CJP founder Dipke said in a statement on X that the fight was not over yet.

He said they would continue to fight for the families of students who died by suicide after a key medical exam was canceled to ensure they received compensation.

He also renewed his calls for action against police officers whom he accused of using excessive force against July 20 protesters against CJP supporters who were attempting to march towards Parliament.

“Remember, don’t mess with [the] cockroach,” he added.

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