Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that protesters could begin demanding his resignation unless education minister Dharmendra Pradhan steps down over alleged examination failures.
Dipke said protesters would remain at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar until Pradhan resigned, accusing the minister of failing millions of students affected by examination paper leaks and related unrest.
“Modi ji, I once again request you to accept Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation,” Dipke said. “Otherwise, the issue will not remain limited to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation alone. It will come for your resignation also.”
Dipke said an “incompetent and failed minister” could not be considered more important than India’s millions of students.
“If a failed and incompetent minister is being considered more important than these crores of students, then remember: No one in India will vote for you in the elections,” he said.
The Cockroach Janta Party has said its protests will continue until Pradhan accepts responsibility and resigns.
Modi, an autocrat who has muzzled the opposition and led crusades against Muslims, has tried to placate the protesters, but with little success. He faces significant political risks. Governments in Nepal and Bangladesh were toppled following similar student-led protests.
Will India be next?