Silence fell over Jantar Mantar and adjoining Parliament Street in central New Delhi at midnight, hours after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its agitation following the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Thousands of students and youth protesters had occupied the site near the Indian Parliament, demanding education reforms, posing one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-wing government. Analysts say Pradhan's resignation is a serious setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government and has dented Modi's strongman image.

After the streets emptied, authorities moved in with paint rollers to scrub away remnants of the Gen Z revolt. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said: "This is not the end. We will meet again soon."

The protests' central demands were Pradhan's resignation and compensation for families of students who died by suicide due to exam leaks and cancellations. The government agreed to provide "maximum possible" compensation, while protesters demanded 10 million rupees ($105,000) per family for about 20 families.

After a police crackdown on July 20 that injured over 100 demonstrators, the CJP gained nationwide support and added demands: no criminal cases against protesters and a police apology. The government assured no cases in BJP-ruled states, but arrests continue in several eastern states.

The CJP's future path remains unclear. Analysts note Dipke's Dalit background as a crucial factor. The group is considering whether to enter electoral politics. CJP member Sudhir Sangwan said: "We are resting and regrouping... We want to take this movement to the grassroots."

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded an apology from Modi's regime for the use of force against students, calling for action against those responsible. Home Minister Amit Shah has also faced calls for resignation. Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav hailed Pradhan's resignation as a "major victory for the new generation."

Source: www.aljazeera.com