MUMBAI (Web Desk) – Bollywood celebrities have welcomed the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after weeks of nationwide student-led protests over alleged examination irregularities, describing the development as a significant victory for young people demanding accountability and reforms in the education system.
The minister stepped down after sustained demonstrations led by students across several Indian cities. Protesters had demanded his resignation, reforms to the examination process and action against those responsible for alleged paper leaks that affected millions of candidates.
Following the announcement, several leading actors took to social media to congratulate the students, saying the movement demonstrated the power of peaceful public participation and youth engagement.
Actor Sonakshi Sinha shared a video expressing support for the protesters and thanked students for standing up for their rights. She humorously admitted that her generation had underestimated Generation Z and praised the determination shown by young demonstrators throughout the campaign.
In another symbolic gesture, Sonakshi performed traditional sit-ups while holding her ears, commonly regarded as an expression of apology and respect, while saluting the country’s younger generation.
Alia Bhatt also reacted to the political development, posting a brief message celebrating the role played by young people in bringing attention to the issue.
She later said the protesting students had represented not only themselves but millions of others seeking fairness, transparency and equal opportunities within India’s education system.
Sara Ali Khan also acknowledged the development through a social media post highlighting the importance of democracy and peaceful civic participation.
Actor Ibrahim Ali Khan welcomed the minister’s resignation, saying it reflected the impact of public voices when citizens unite around a common cause. He later praised the country’s youth for remaining determined throughout the movement.
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi described the resignation as an important achievement for students but urged campaigners to continue working for lasting educational reforms beyond the minister’s departure.
Actor Prakash Raj congratulated the protesters and praised the movement’s persistence, saying collective action had succeeded in forcing political accountability.
Priyanka Chopra also reacted by sharing posts describing the resignation as a major political development following weeks of student demonstrations against alleged examination irregularities.
She expressed appreciation for the campaign while highlighting the determination shown by students during the nationwide protests.
Vaani Kapoor praised young protesters for continuing their campaign despite challenges, saying the achievement belonged to every student who had remained hopeful and committed to change.
Several other celebrities, including Malaika Arora, Tina Datta, Ayesha Kanga and Anjali Sivaraman, also shared messages supporting the students and celebrating the outcome on various social media platforms.
The protests were largely organised through the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-driven social media movement that gained widespread attention after criticism of examination management and allegations of repeated paper leaks.
CJP leaders later announced that they had decided to suspend demonstrations after saying their key demands had been accepted during negotiations with authorities.
According to movement representatives, those demands included the education minister’s resignation, compensation for students affected by examination irregularities and the withdrawal of legal cases filed against protesters.
In his resignation statement, Dharmendra Pradhan said he regretted the recent developments and submitted his resignation in the national interest. He described India’s youth as the country’s greatest strength and expressed hope that future reforms would restore confidence in the education system.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also welcomed the resignation, calling it an important step while urging the government to ensure justice for affected students and introduce meaningful reforms to prevent similar controversies in the future.
The episode has become one of the most significant youth-led political movements in recent years, highlighting the growing influence of social media campaigns and student activism in shaping public debate and government accountability.
