‘Cockroach’ Youth Group Founder Leads Protest in India
New Delhi – The founder of India’s viral youth group ‘Cockroach Janta Party,’ Abhijeet Dipke, led his first street protest in New Delhi on Saturday after arriving from the United States. The demonstration demanded the resignation of the federal education minister, marking the movement’s transition from online activism to physical protests in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Dipke, 30, who had spent the past two years in the US, was welcomed by hundreds of supporters upon arrival at New Delhi’s international airport. Holding a copy of India’s constitution, he proceeded to lead the protest near Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi. There, several hundred demonstrators gathered, chanting slogans against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, calling for his resignation over repeated examination paper leaks and grading errors affecting millions of students.
Since its launch in mid-May, the Cockroach Janta Party has amassed over 22 million followers on Instagram, becoming one of the largest youth-led online expressions of dissent against Modi’s 12-year tenure, particularly amid persistent high unemployment among the country’s youth. Dipke claimed that hundreds of thousands of students have joined the movement in a short span, emphasizing that the group represents the collective voice of frustrated students rather than being a formal political party.
The government has responded by blocking the movement’s account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) within India, a decision currently being challenged in the Delhi High Court. Senior cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju has accused the group of seeking support from Pakistan and anti-India factions, allegations that Dipke counters by presenting data showing that approximately 95% of the movement’s Instagram followers are based in India, with others located primarily in the US, home to a significant Indian diaspora.
Political analysts note that the group’s rising popularity has started to impact Modi’s image, despite his party’s recent successes in key state elections. The Indian public’s frustration has intensified in the face of rising fuel prices and gas shortages attributed to the ongoing conflict in Iran, putting additional pressure on household budgets.
India’s youth population, nearly 400 million strong in the 15 to 29 age group, faces significant challenges in obtaining non-agricultural employment, with urban youth unemployment rates nearing 14% as of April. Many young, educated Indians remain trapped in low-paying or insecure jobs unrelated to their skills, highlighting systemic issues in job creation and economic opportunity.
Dipke vowed to expand the movement across India, signaling a broadening wave of youth activism aimed at challenging existing government policies and demanding accountability on educational and employment issues.