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BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya claimed Dharmendra Pradhan had offered to resign as Union Education Minister on the first day of the student agitation but was asked by the party leadership to wait. He said Pradhan stepped down immediately after the BJP decided.Former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan(PTI)Madhya Pradesh minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has claimed that former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan had offered to resign on the very first day of the student agitation over alleged examination irregularities, but was asked by the party leadership to continue until a decision was taken, PTI reported.Speaking to reporters in Indore on Saturday, Vijayvargiya said Pradhan had conveyed his willingness to step down to the BJP leadership as soon as the protests began in Delhi."On the first day, as soon as the student agitation began, Pradhan had told the BJP president that if he felt it was necessary, he was ready to resign as education minister," Vijayvargiya told PTI.Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSDharmendra Pradhan resigned following weeks of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak.The CJP ended their protest after the government agreed to fulfill their demands, including compensation for families of students who died by suicide and the withdrawal of FIRs against protesters.The CJP's agitation culminated in Pradhan's resignation, indicating the protests were significant enough to influence the government's decision-making.The CJP secured commitments for compensation to families of deceased NEET aspirants and the withdrawal of FIRs against various protesters.Kailash Vijayvargiya praised Pradhan for his honesty and dedication and claimed that his resignation foiled the plans of foreign forces seeking to destabilize India.Pradhan asked not to resignAccording to him, the BJP president asked Pradhan not to resign, saying no decision had been taken on the issue and directing him neither to submit his resignation nor discuss the matter with anyone."Later, when circumstances changed and the party decided that Pradhan should step down, he resigned immediately," Vijayvargiya said.Pradhan resigned on Saturday following weeks of nationwide protests over alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities. Soon after his resignation, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its 36-day agitation at Jantar Mantar after the Centre accepted several of its demands.Congratulating Pradhan, Vijayvargiya said the former minister had discharged every responsibility with honesty and dedication."Pradhan's resignation has foiled the designs of those foreign forces that wanted to destabilise India by spreading violence, as happened in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I congratulate him for what he has done," he said.Vijayvargiya questions Congress' roleThe BJP leader also criticised the Congress for celebrating Pradhan's resignation, claiming the Opposition had played no meaningful role in the student movement."What role did the Congress play in the student agitation? The students launched the agitation and the Congress merely stood behind them," he alleged.He further claimed the Congress had become "demoralised" after the West Bengal assembly election and found "a ray of hope" in the CJP-led movement.Vijayvargiya also questioned whether any Congress leader had faced police action during the protests.Responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks alleging that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had hollowed out the country's education system, Vijayvargiya defended the organisation."I feel very sorry for Rahul Gandhi's political ideology and his intellect. I think he still needs to understand what the RSS is," he said, adding that the country was moving in the right direction and crediting the RSS for its contribution.Stay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news. Follow CJP Protest LIVE updates as Sonam Wangchuk ends hi

Delhi Metro has removed entry and exit restrictions, facilitating access to all stations. DMRC on Sunday shared an update on train services.Delhi Metro has lifted entry and exit restrictions across its entire network.(PTI)Delhi metro stations are not closed today. Train services are operating normally at all metro stations a day after Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced closure of 18 stations. DMRC in its latest update on passenger services announced that uninterrupted services will operate as usual across its entire network. The closure was announced on account of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest.In a post on X, DMRC stated, “All stations of the Delhi Metro network are open (both entry and exit) for passenger services.” Hence, train services have resumed at Shivaji Stadium, Mandi House, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court and New Delhi metro station, among others.On 25 July evening, Delhi Metro lifted restrictions on passenger entry, allowing commuters to access train services from all gates of all Metro Stations of the Delhi Metro network. For the past four days, authorities restricted passenger movement through the metro due to security concerns in the wake of CJP protest at Jantar Mantar and ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament.Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSYes, all Delhi metro stations are open today, and train services are operating normally across the entire network.The restrictions were imposed due to security concerns arising from protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar.DMRC lifted the restrictions on passenger entry on July 25, allowing access through all gates at metro stations after assessing the situation.The CJP withdrew its protest after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, fulfilling one of their core demands.Yes, commuters are advised to check official updates before planning their journeys, as the situation can change based on ongoing protests and advisories.Even Airport Express Line services were affected on Saturday due to travel restrictions. Train services were available only between Dhaula Kuan and Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25. The development about reopening of key metro stations came in a phased manner, hours after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday after weeks of massive student protests in Delhi seeking his resignation over exam irregularities, particularly the NEET-UG paper leak.This marks a victory for Abhijeet Dipke-led outfit which has been leading the month-long protests to press it demand. The CJP, which had long been seeking Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, welcomed the union minister's announcement and declared that it was withdrawing its agitation. This announcement ended a campaign that began at Jantar Mantar on 20 June. The youth-led oraganisation also secured government commitments on compensation for affected families and the withdrawal of criminal cases filed against protesters. CJP withdraws agitationCJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das on Saturday said the outfit was calling off its protest on the understanding that promises made would be honoured on schedule. Saurav Das stated, “Cockroach Janta Party declares that we withdraw the agitation in good faith, with the understanding that the agreed-upon terms will be executed within the agreed-upon timelines.”On the financial commitment secured from the government, National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said, "We had demanded compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of NEET victims. The government has agreed to this, stating that an honorary compensation will be given to those families under whatever rules and regulations allow."He added, "Apart from this, we also placed a five-point demand charter before the government, which talked about broader educational reforms and exam reforms. We will meet the government again in about four weeks regarding that demand charter so that we can work together on

An 11-year-old statement by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has resurfaced on social media following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with many users linking the old remark to the latest political developments.Pradhan stepped down on Saturday amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities. Soon after the announcement, a video clip from Rajnath Singh's June 24, 2015 press conference began circulating widely online.In the viral clip, Singh is heard saying, "Our ministers do not have to resign. This is not their (Congress) government, this is the NDA government."Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSDharmendra Pradhan resigned amid nationwide protests over alleged NEET paper leaks and examination irregularities, marking only the second instance of a resignation during Prime Minister Modi's tenure.Rajnath Singh's 2015 statement that 'our ministers do not have to resign' gained traction on social media after Pradhan's resignation, prompting comparisons between the two political events.The protests, led by various student organizations and activists, were significant as they represented widespread discontent over examination irregularities and called for accountability within the education system.Political leaders like Rahul Gandhi praised the students' persistence, calling it a victory for democracy, while others emphasized the need for further reforms in the education system.The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) played a crucial role by organizing protests demanding Pradhan's resignation and led significant actions at locations like Jantar Mantar, amplifying the voices of students nationwide.The statement was made more than a decade ago during the controversy surrounding former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, when the Opposition had demanded the resignation of senior BJP leaders.What Rajnath Singh Had Said In 2015During the June 2015 press conference, Rajnath Singh was responding to questions about the Congress's demand for the resignation of then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.Repeating the government's position, Singh had said, "Our ministers do not have to resign. This is not their (Congress) government, this is NDA government."At the time, Swaraj and Raje were facing criticism from the Opposition over allegations that they had helped former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi obtain travel documents in the United Kingdom.Raje's son, Dushyant Singh, also came under political scrutiny, while Opposition parties threatened to disrupt Parliament's Monsoon Session unless action was taken against Swaraj and Raje.The resurfaced video has gained traction on social media after Pradhan's resignation, with users drawing comparisons between the 2015 statement and the latest political development.Pradhan's Resignation Ends A Long GapDharmendra Pradhan's resignation marks only the second instance during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12-year tenure at the Centre that a Union Cabinet minister has stepped down from office.Before Pradhan's exit, the last Union minister to resign was M.J. Akbar, then Minister of State for External Affairs, who stepped down on October 17, 2018 after allegations against him during the #MeToo movement.Pradhan resigned on Saturday as protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination continued across the country.Student Protests Intensified Across The CountryStudents and several student organisations have been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination-related irregularities.Activist Sonam Wangchuk also joined the movement, observing an indefinite hunger strike in support of the students. He ended his fast on Friday, July 24, after which speculation intensified over whether Pradhan would remain in office.Following the resignation announcement, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke addressed supporters gathered at Ja