Around 2.25 pm, as soon as the news of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation broke, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, shouted jubilantly.

Jantar Mantar protest updates on July 25, 2026

He then grabbed a microphone, walked to the front of the stage and addressed the thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar protest site: “We have done it.” 

With his fists closed and raised in the air, he declared, “Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. It was said that resignations do not happen in this government. Even the world will bow if there is a person to make it happen.” 

The protest site erupted in celebration. Protesters hugged one another, broke into tears, and danced to patriotic Bollywood songs as chants of victory echoed through the crowd and slogans like “Haar gaye, haar gaye, Tanashah haar gaye [dictator has been defeated]” reverberated across the venue. 

For many students who had spent days braving rain, heat, and sleeping on roads while demanding accountability, the announcement was more than a political development. It was an emotional affirmation that their voices had finally been heard.

Despite the resignation, which was one of the major demands, the crowd at Jantar Mantar continued to swell as people wanted to celebrate the “historic victory”. 

Dozens gathered in front of the main stage to take selfies, while long queues were seen outside the entrance of the venue as thousands of people continued to stream in to the protest site. 

Inside the protest site, slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” filled the air. Some also chanted “Jang abhi bhi jaari hai, E20 ki baari hai” (the fight is not over, E20 is the next target) even as organisers repeatedly appealed to the gathering to maintain peace. 

As A.R. Rahman’s ‘Vande Matram’ played from the stage, people sang along, as Mr. Dipke waved the national flag from the centre of the stage. People continued to celebrate as “Chak De! India” blared from the stage.

People distributed “Melody” chocolate in celebration, an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting the confectionery to the Italian Prime Minister earlier this year. Mr. Dipke, who had been unwell, soon left the area. 

At around 6 p.m., CJP spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das returned after meeting Union Ministers and announced that “we have won”, triggering another round of applause. 

About half an hour later, Mr. Ranka urged people to disperse peacefully as the protest had been called off. “We will meet you soon,” he said, as both of them left the area. 

While many people started to leave, hundreds continued to pour in to celebrate, forcing the volunteers to close the entries to the protest site. Thousands of people who were still coming to the protest site gathered at the Sansad Marg leading to Connaught Place.

By 8:30 pm, workers had started to dismantle the main stage. But, still people climbed on it to click selfies, amid chants of “Vande Bharatam” and fluttering of national flags. 

Protesters divided

However, not all protesters agreed with the decision to call off the agitation.  

Kuldeepak Yadav, 29, from Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, who said he had been at the protest site since it began, was of the opinion that it would have been difficult to continue the protest after the government had agreed to the three core demands. “If we continue the protest, a lot of people who are originally associated with the movement may distance themselves,” he said.  

But Vrutika, 17, from Mumbai, who had joined the protest a day earlier with her father, had a different take. “The protest should continue seeking the Prime Minister’s resignation. There are many pressing issues, such as price rise, financial distress, and lack of regard for the Constitution,” the Class XII student said.  

“I came here to fight for education and also my rights,” she added.