PANJIM: Students, youth, and activists celebrated the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, by assembling at Azad Maidan and terming it a victory for democracy after weeks of sustained protests across the country.
Addressing the gathering, activist Avertino Miranda said that the Union Minister’s resignation was a victory for the youth, students, and their parents who had been protesting for several days over the NEET paper leak controversy. He alleged that the government was instilling fear in the minds of students and youth by asking the police to register FIRs against them.
The police were harassing them and denying them permission to hold meet-ings, he charged. Activist Danish Mohammed stated that freedom of expression is a democratic right in the country, but added that nobody should indulge in hate speech. Poojan Malvankar said that this is a true victory for the students and youth of the country, noting that Gen-Z and the youth will remain united to fight for a better nation and a stronger democracy.
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Activist Aruvi Ravana said, “We are a nation that is highly heterogeneous, but that does not mean we are divided. Heterogeneity means that we have differences that must be acknowledged. How we move forward as a nation depends on our ability to live with, respect, and embrace those differences rather than allowing lowing them to divide us.” Sudeep Dalvi, Amreen Shaikh, Cecille Rodrigues, Francis Coelho, and others also spoke.
The speakers welcomed the resignation of the Union Education Minister, calling it a historic moment. They also demanded the immediate withdrawal of registered against 1,000 protesters. However, they emphasised that the movement will continue and shift its focus onto several other issues currently affecting Goa and its identity. The activists stressed that the Union Minister’s resignation was not their only demand and that they would continue raising structural i I issues concerning the State.
Meanwhile, opposition parties and student organisations hailed Pradhan’s resignation as a triumph for student power.
Goa Forward Party (GFP) President and MLAVijai Sardesai said, “The resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is an acknowledgment that responsibility cannot be ignored. But 21 young lives have been lost. Their families deserve answers, students deserve justice, and the nation deserves complete accountability. This must mark the beginning of meaningful reform, not the end of the conversation. We also demand that the government take strict action against those responsible for the police brutality against students in Delhi. Reports FIRS being registered against students in different parts of the country are deeply concern- ing. The right to peaceful protest and the safety and dignity of students must be protected, and any excessive use of force should be investigated impartially and transparently.”
All India TMC national convenor Trajano D’Mello said, “Our nation’s youth power, ‘Gen-Z, has brought down on its knees an arrogant governance of the past 14 years that was functioning on a denial mode. Gen-Z proved that democracy can survive through genuine, honest, and peaceful protest when all institutions meant to safeguard democracy fail. The country bows down to the Gen-Z generation for showing us the way to keep democracy alive.”
AAP Goa President Valmiki Naik applauded the youth and students following Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and demanded an apology from Narendra Sawaikar, alongside the immediate withdrawal of FIRs against thousands of youth who peacefully protested in Goa.
NSUI State Secretary Abdul Sayed called it a victory for public accountability, stating, “Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation proves public accountability is non-negotiable. When students stand united, the government must listen. Real power always lies with the people.”
