India's 'Cockroach' movement to end protests after education minister quits

India's 'Cockroach' movement has agreed to end protests after talks with the government, following the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Demonstrations have been held in the capital, New Delhi, and cities across the country in recent weeks.

They were sparked by alleged examination paper leaks in some of India's most competitive entrance tests.

Around two million students are said to have been affected by the alleged leaks, which have also been linked to several student suicides.

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On Friday, Pradhan announced his resignation on X, saying: "Considering the situation that ​has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across ⁠the country, so that ⁠anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation... I have sent my ‌resignation letter to the prime minister.

"I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and ‌legitimate expectations of the country's youth."

Following the news, cheers came from supporters continuing to protest in central Delhi.

Later in the day, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, which took its name from a comment by the chief justice of India's Supreme Court who compared unemployed young people with cockroaches, said the demonstrations would stop. The group added that the government had met all their demands.

"We have done ​it," said Mr Dipke.

Protesters initially called for education reforms, but the movement has since transformed into broader public frustrations over unemployment, government accountability and economic opportunity.

It has become one of Narendra Modi's biggest challenges since he became prime minister in 2014.

Thousands of protesters have been returning to the streets even after police used tear gas and batons this week to disperse marchers trying to reach parliament.

Sky's India reporter Neville Lazarus said the leaders of the protest movement had made three demands to Modhi's representatives at a recent meeting.

One - the resignation of Pradhan - was a "non-negotiable". The other two, said Lazarus, were "compensation for the children who had taken their lives because of the examination paper leak, and the third [was] the withdrawing of cases by police against the protesters".

He added that the protesters said the meeting was 'cordial' but that they were losing patience with the government.

To limit the protests, authorities have restricted access to the internet and some metro stations.

Anger has boiled over since police injured protesters on Monday, injuring students, launching baton charges and firing tear gas.

Pradhan, 57, is a senior leader of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and ⁠had been regarded as a rising figure.

(c) Sky News 2026: India's 'Cockroach' movement to end protests after education minister quits