New Delhi, July 25 — The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday announced that the services on Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat stations have been resumed.
This came shortly after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the Union Education Minister following nationwide protests against paper leaks.
"Entry gates for Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations are now open," the DMRC said in the latest update.
Earlier on Saturday, the DMRC had announced the temporary closure of 18 Metro stations across Central Delhi until further notice, citing heightened security arrangements in view of the ongoing student protests near Jantar Mantar over NEET paper leaks.
As per the advisory, entry and exit services had been suspended at Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium, Jhandewalan and New Delhi Metro stations.
However, now, the gates for Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations have been opened.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Pradhan, announcing his resignation, said he was deeply pained by the developments of the past 10 days and wanted to ensure that anti-national forces did not exploit the situation arising from the controversy over examination irregularities.
Submitting his resignation, Union Minister Pradhan reaffirmed his commitment to youth and education while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for support, framing it as a response to protect exam integrity and students' future.
This comes amid nationwide protests demanding strict action against the paper leaks and exam irregularities, and Education Minister Pradhan's resignation citing accountability.
"I have always held unwavering faith in the strength of our democracy and deeply respected the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the youth. They are not merely India's future; they are the torchbearers, builders, and architects of a new and developed India. I am pained by the events of the past ten days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me," Pradhan said in his letter to the nation.
"Considering the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country -- to prevent anti-national forces from exploiting it, preserving national unity, ensuring that not a single Indian student's future gets entangled in legal complexities, and allowing our children to devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers -- I have submitted my resignation to the Prime Minister," he added.