‘Cockroach’ Movement Spreads from Social Media to Streets Against Indian Government

The Cockroach Janata Party, born out of a derogatory comment labeling unemployed youth as ‘cockroaches,’ has staged a protest in New Delhi demanding reforms in India’s education system. Led by founder Abhijit Deepak, who returned from the United States, thousands of students and young people gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, actor Prakash Raj, and various political parties have expressed solidarity with the protest against exam paper leaks.

23 Jestha, Kathmandu – The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) began as a satire. During a hearing, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant insulted unemployed youth, calling them ‘cockroaches’ and ‘parasites.’ In symbolic protest, Abhijit Deepak, then studying in the US, launched a call on May 16 via a Google Form on X (formerly Twitter) under the name ‘Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).’ He chose a name sounding similar to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This call came just one day after the Chief Justice’s remarks.

Deepak’s initiative spread like wildfire, amassing more than 160,000 members and 2 million Instagram followers within four days. What began as a light-hearted online movement quickly turned into a form of resistance. Deepak announced his return to India this week as the controversy over the leaking of NEET exam papers intensified nationwide. Building on this, the CJP declared plans to move from social media to street protests, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Deepak set June 6 as the date for the demonstration after returning from the US.

Until June 5, with Minister Pradhan still refusing to resign, education and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk from Ladakh also announced his participation in the CJP protest. Shortly afterward, Pradhan submitted his resignation. As planned, Deepak landed this morning at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport around 7:30 AM. He carried a copy of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar’s autobiography—the architect of the Indian Constitution—and showed it to the media.

A striking scene unfolded at the busy Delhi airport as journalists teasingly called Deepak ‘Kala Hit.’ Kala Hit is an aerosol insecticide by Godrej used to kill mosquitoes and flies. Referring to the insecticide’s weight, the journalists humorously nicknamed the CJP founder ‘Kala Hit.’ Deepak then proceeded to Parliamenat Marg police station to seek permission for the protest, which was granted by the police.

Protesters began gathering at Jantar Mantar amid heightened security in the capital. Barricades surrounded the area and over 1,000 police officers were deployed. Security around Deepak’s home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, was also tight, with Deputy Superintendent of Police Pankaj Atulkar ready to deploy additional personnel if needed. Deepak’s parents were not home at the time.

Among the protesters, some feared Deepak might be arrested immediately upon arrival, but no such action was taken. Demonstrators had gathered at Jantar Mantar since early morning. Madhavi Vishwas from Tripura arrived by 6 AM despite financial difficulties, fundraising to make the trip to Delhi. She stated her participation was to demand reforms in the Indian education system, especially as her son plans to take the NEET exam next year.

The Saturday protest included 16-year-old school students and their parents. Many wore paper masks shaped like cockroaches and carried flowers. Coordinator Deepak arrived at the protest site around 11 AM, energizing the crowd. He reiterated calls for Education Minister Pradhan’s resignation, labeling him ‘shameless,’ and claimed that CJP’s social media accounts had been hacked and posts deleted.

Deepak declared, ‘You can delete our posts, but you cannot erase us. The youth of this country are not for sale. Students are not for sale.’ He also remarked that arriving at the Delhi airport could have been his last moment of freedom. ‘I was prepared to sacrifice my freedom for this cause.’

In the afternoon, environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest at Jantar Mantar carrying a rose, symbolizing peace as requested by Deepak. Wangchuk warned, ‘If Deepak is arrested, I will fast for six weeks.’ Fortunately, the arrest did not occur.

Delhi University student Sirjan shared his experience that during the CUET exam, only 10 minutes were allowed for the English paper, which was unreasonable, causing difficulty in admissions. He harshly criticized the government and the education minister. Protesters from Bihar also expressed dissatisfaction with exam management and demanded immediate resignation of the education minister.

A placard reading ‘We asked for Make in India, you gave us Leak in India’ was seen at the protest, signaling growing political support. Rohit Pawar, general secretary and legislator of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray have endorsed CJP. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut cautioned the government not to ignore youth unrest.

Activists Sonam Wangchuk, actor Prakash Raj, and popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathi also showed unity at the protest and urged participants to stay safe. According to estimates, about 22 million people are connected to the movement through social media; however, the turnout in public spaces reveals a significant gap.

Psychology graduate Aditya, participating in the movement, stated, ‘We talk a lot on social media, but we have come to see the reality on the ground. Now this movement must be decisive.’ Individuals from Tripura, Bihar, Haryana, and Mumbai joined from across the country, demonstrating the movement’s expansion beyond online platforms. Aditya emphasized this as a sign that real change must be ensured.

The demands of the youth extend beyond the minister’s resignation, which is why people ranging from young adults to senior citizens participated. One elderly protester said, ‘Where the system is rotten, cockroaches have to feed on the rotten things. We have come to consume the rotten fruits of this corrupt system.’ This clearly indicates the movement is not limited to just young people.

India’s growing dissatisfaction has a deep background. Nearly 94,000 government schools have closed in the past 12 years, while private school fees continue to rise. During Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure, over 70 exam papers have been leaked, raising concerns about examinations like NEET, SSC, GD, UPSI, and UP Lekhpal.

The slogans raised at Jantar Mantar have also struck at India’s caste and communal politics. Founder Deepak described current Indian politics as based on ‘divide and rule’ around Hindu-Muslim tensions. Slogans such as ‘End Hindu-Muslim politics’ were heard at the protest, signaling a youth fatigued by religious divisions and demanding focus on substantive issues.

Though largely peaceful, the protest saw brief tensions. Police detained six individuals to prevent clashes between groups. Coordinator Deepak repeatedly urged supporters to record events on their mobile phones to prevent false accusations.