India, July 26 -- Within minutes of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation on Saturday afternoon, the mood at Delhi's Jantar Mantar transformed from one of defiance to celebration before gradually giving way to an orderly dispersal as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its month-long agitation over the NEET controversy.

As vehicles streamed towards Jantar Mantar, patriotic songs blared from loudspeakers while supporters raised slogans celebrating what they described as a hard-fought victory. At 2:18 pm, when news of Pradhan's resignation reached the protest site, students hugged each other, danced, waved flags and burst into chants.

The CJP announced the immediate withdrawal of its protests across the country ...