India’s ‘cockroach’ movement ousts education minister : NPR

Key Points:

• India's education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following widespread student protests over leaked exam papers affecting university admissions and government jobs, meeting a key protester demand.
• The protests, which expanded beyond New Delhi to over a dozen cities, challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12-year rule and united young Indians across caste, class, religion, and language lines.
• Student leaders also demand compensation for families of students who died by suicide after a medical exam paper leak and action against security personnel who attacked protesters near Parliament.
• The protests gained momentum after police forcibly removed educator Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a 26-day hunger strike in solidarity with students; Wangchuk ended his fast following government assurances to address exam system failures.
• Modi acknowledged the seriousness of the paper leaks and stated that those responsible were jailed but initially did not meet the demand for the education minister’s resignation, which was only tendered after the threat of nationwide marches.