Youth Victory and the 'Cockroach Party' That Ousted India's Minister

The greatest challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at present may not be from the political elite, but from the youth. Since last June, thousands of young people have taken to the streets across Indian cities to protest against the administration led by PM Modi, citing a failing education system as a primary cause of youth unemployment.

These young protesters have claimed victory following the resignation of a cabinet minister. The movement’s name stems from a remark by the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, who once referred to unemployed youth as ‘cockroaches’ attacking government institutions. In response, US graduate Abhijeet Dipke used social media to ask, ‘what if all the cockroaches gathered?’ This led to the creation of the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP) in May, a satirical movement targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With the slogan ‘a political party for the people forgotten by the system’, the CJP quickly amassed over 22 million followers, surpassing the BJP’s social media following.

The CJP used its platform to highlight the leakage of medical school entrance exams, specifically the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). Over two million students were forced to retake the exam after the initial results were invalidated due to allegations of paper leaks. This repetition imposed significant financial and psychological burdens on applicants. Tragically, at least 12 students, including 19-year-old Sheikh Sana, have reportedly taken their own lives due to the pressure.

Since early June, millions of young people affiliated with the CJP have demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In New Delhi, hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed to intercept demonstrators. While New Delhi police stated the protests were unauthorised, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das accused authorities of using brutal force against peaceful protesters. Amnesty International India’s Aakar Patel also noted that authorities used excessive force and suspended metro and mobile internet services to restrict the right to peaceful assembly.

Following weeks of nationwide protests, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned last weekend, taking responsibility for the exam leaks. In response to the unrest, the Indian government has announced a draft bill to amend examination laws, introducing harsher penalties for malpractice, including up to 10 years in prison and fines exceeding 900 million rupiah (approximately £42,000).