The Minister of Education of India, Dharmendra Pradhan, submitted his resignation this Saturday following the scandal over the leak of university entrance exam questions and the intense protests that have spread across the country, resulting in hundreds of injuries.
"Considering the current situation across the country and so that the forces opposed to the nation cannot gain an advantage from this... I have decided to resign from my position and submit my resignation letter to the Prime Minister," Pradhan stated, who said he "respects the aspirations, feelings, and expectations of the youth of the country," according to a message shared on social media.
The protests, which have not ceased in recent days, have forced security forces to resort to tear gas to try to disperse those gathered in New Delhi, the Indian capital.
Abhijeet Dipke, leader of the newly created Cockroach Janta Party (a name that winks at the Prime Minister's party, Narentra Modi), has led the protests and expressed his satisfaction after the resignation was announced.
This is one of the largest mobilizations since Modi came to power in 2014 and, according to official data, about 180 people -- around 60 protesters and more than 110 agents -- have been injured in clashes with security forces.
The student movement -- which has demanded a complete reform of the educational system -- intensified last weekend, after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalized by the police during his three-week hunger strike to demand the resignation of the Education Minister.