What is the controversy?

A video showing CJP protesters dancing to music during a celebration after Pradhan's resignation went viral on social media.

The protesters had camped at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for over a month, demanding accountability over the NEET paper-leak controversy.

The video sparked criticism from a section of social media users, BJP leaders, journalists and legal experts, who accused the group of trivialising a movement centred on education and student welfare.

BJP questions celebrations

BJP IT department chief Amit Malviya criticised the "Resignation Party" video, arguing that the celebrations appeared inconsistent with the movement's stated objective of seeking justice for students affected by the NEET paper leak.

He wrote on X: "Everyone deserves to unwind and celebrate after a hard day's work. But there is a time and a place for it."

He further said: "When a movement is presented as a fight for justice for students, including those whose deaths by suicide are invoked as its moral foundation, scenes of dancing and what appears to be a celebratory party immediately afterwards strike a jarring contrast."

Malviya added: "To many, it will seem deeply insensitive, almost like dancing at someone's funeral while claiming to mourn their loss."

Mahesh Jethmalani raises funding questions

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani also questioned the celebrations and sought clarity on the funding behind the agitation.

Jethmalani wrote on X: "Seriously? The CJP leadership throwing a victory party at a hotel! After Delhi witnessed days of violence, these so-called youth activists switched on the music and began dancing."

He further asked: "Who funded the travel, food, accommodation, equipment and logistics throughout this agitation? Who financed the people who kept Delhi on the boil?"

Journalist Rohini Singh backs Gen Z approach

Journalist and news anchor Rohini Singh defended the students, arguing that celebration and activism are not mutually exclusive for younger generations.

Singh wrote on X: "Again, Noida channel anchors, the IT cell and their affiliates seem convinced they can discredit Gen Z by circulating videos of student leaders partying after Pradhan's resignation."

She added: "A generation that can wear a lathi charge as a badge of honour also doesn't believe activism requires perennial performative misery. They can protest fiercely, laugh loudly and celebrate victories—all at the same time. That isn't hypocrisy. It's their worldview."

'We can protest while dancing': CJP

Responding to the criticism, Saurav Das said the reactions showed that the government and its supporters failed to understand how younger generations express themselves.

He wrote on X: "It just goes to show that the government and godi anchors simply do not understand the language of Gen Z and younger generations."

Das added: "We can sit on the road for as long as it takes. We can protest while dancing. We can organise while sipping cold coffee. We can fight for change without looking the way previous generations think a movement should look."

Concluding his post, he said: "That's just how this generation is. Confident, creative, resilient, and IMPOSSIBLE to stereotype. The uncles and aunties can keep complaining. They'll just have to deal with us!"