After days-long student protests over NEET paper leaks, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation earlier this Saturday. Several people on social media welcomed the news, including actors and directors across industries.
Priyanka Chopra shared the news on her Instagram Stories space and responded with a clapping hands emoticon, similar to how vocal student protest supporter Sonakshi Sinha did. Priyanka also shared educationist Sonam Wangchuk's reaction to the news, where he embraced it with an image featuring him giving a victory sign.
Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan wrote, "Vox Populi," suggesting that the minister's resignation is people's victory.
On the other hand, actor Anna Ben shared the news on her Instagram Stories and wrote, "The people did it," alongside some fire emoticons. Aparna Balamurali shared a flexed biceps emoticon alongside an India flag to convey that the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan has come as a result of the country's youth showing their strengths through their protest. Aparna shared the emoticon in a post where she also tagged Travis Knapp's song, 'Democracy'. The song has the line, "Show me what democracy looks like."
Many are celebrating Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a victory of democracy over authoritarianism.
Meanwhile, actor Tovino Thomas shared the image of a fist with India's flag painted on it and wrote, "Jai Hind!" Tovino also shared Murali Gopy's post where he quoted historian Howard Zinn. "Patriotism is not obedience to government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand," reads the quote. Sharing the quote, writer-actor Murali Gopy shared victory signs, suggesting it to be his response to the education minister's resignation.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Rahul Ravindran shared a long note expressing his thoughts on the student protest and the minister's resignation. In his post, The Girlfriend director Rahul reminded people that the resignation is not a reason for celebration. "A person losing their job never is. But this is crucial. It is important that a strong culture and precedent is set time and again that people in the highest positions of power will face the consequences of repeat lapses and inefficiencies. That is a very basic check in every sphere of public service. It creates a culture of accountability in any democracy," Rahul shared.
The filmmaker noted down the flaws in the education system, saying that question papers always before adding that the NEET paper leak "was just the tip of the iceberg". Rahul also expressed his hope for action against those who used "brutal force on students and peaceful protesters". Noting that Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation means that an uproar can impact "the corridors of power," the filmmaker said that so much of protest was not necessary for the powers that be to take aciton. "Every single person who contributed in the smallest of ways to the biggest to mobilise this roar that was heard in the corridors of power... we shouldn't have had to do so much to be heard."
At the same time, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar shared, "History has been written... well done to all the Gen Z kids... I bow down to you and every other person that was on ground and off supporting this cause.. Jai Hind. This is democracy."
Malavika Mohanan, Manjima Mohan, Anjali Menon, Nazriya Nazim, Soubin Shahir, Sangeeth Prathap, Rajisha Vijayan, Mithila Palkar, Anupama Parameswaran, Mamitha Baiju, and Jim Sarbh, among others, responded positively to the news of the minister's resignation.
Following the minister's resignation, the CJP has put out a statement announcing its withdrawal from the countrywide agitation against the government.
