NEW DELHI: The founder of India’s rapidly growing online youth movement, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has announced plans to hold a protest in New Delhi, targeting the country’s education system and calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The planned demonstration marks a significant step for the movement, which has gained millions of followers on social media in recent days by focusing on concerns among young Indians over unemployment, inflation, examination controversies, and education policy.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who is currently based in the United States, said he intends to return to India to lead a peaceful protest and press for accountability over issues affecting students. He also claimed that nearly 800,000 students have signed a petition seeking the education minister’s resignation.
The Ministry of Education and government representatives did not immediately respond to the claims.
Youth concerns drive online growth
The Cockroach Janta Party has attracted widespread attention among young people, particularly those under the age of 30, who make up a large share of India’s population.
The movement has highlighted concerns over recent examination paper leaks, reported marking errors in school examinations, and employment challenges facing graduates and job seekers.
According to official government data, the unemployment rate among Indians aged 15 to 29 stood at 9.9% last year, compared with the overall unemployment rate of 3.1%.
Origin of the movement
The group’s unusual name stems from remarks attributed to India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant, who compared some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” during court proceedings. The judge later clarified that his comments referred to individuals holding fake or fraudulent degrees rather than young people in general.
The movement has since gained substantial traction online, amassing more than 22 million followers on Instagram, making it one of the largest youth-focused digital campaigns in India in recent years.
Political reaction
Dipke told Reuters that some family members and friends were concerned about the possibility of his arrest upon returning to India.
Meanwhile, senior Indian minister Kiren Rijiju accused the movement of seeking support from Pakistan and anti-government groups, allegations that the organization has not publicly addressed.
The emergence of the Cockroach Janta Party comes amid heightened public debate over education reforms and examination management. Following the cancellation of a medical entrance examination due to a paper leak, the Indian government has reportedly planned to use Air Force aircraft to transport examination papers for a retest later this month.
The movement has also expanded its focus to broader economic issues, including youth unemployment and rising living costs, themes that continue to resonate across social media platforms.
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