'My voice is being heard': A month of India's Cockroach Party
Parth MN
A satirical party started by Gen Z has staged nationwide protests demanding the removal of the federal education minister over severe exam leak scandals. The movement, which turned a judge's insult into a symbol of resilience, has drawn millions online and thousands to the streets, reflecting deep youth unrest over systemic corruption.
Mumbai, India – Ayush Shimpi, 20, from Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, has been through more than a month of upheaval. On May 3, he sat for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the national medical entrance exam. After a two-year study break to prepare, he breathed a sigh of relief walking out of the exam hall. “I got out of the race,” he told Al Jazeera.
But just nine days later, the government cancelled the NEET results over allegations of leaks and widespread irregularities. Shimpi's world, along with that of more than two million other candidates competing for fewer than 130,000 medical school seats, collapsed. After the cancellation, several students took their own lives, triggering public outrage.
Amid this, Shimpi stumbled upon the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Instagram – a satirical account that quickly became a Gen Z movement in the world's most populous nation.
It all started with a controversial remark by India's Chief Justice, Surya Kant, who said: “There are young people, like cockroaches, with no jobs, no standing in their profession.” Abhijeet Dipke, 30, an Indian student in Boston, US, asked on social media: “What if all the cockroaches came together?” Millions of young people responded, adopting the cockroach as a symbol of resilience.
On May 16, Dipke announced the formation of the CJP – a play on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP. He set up a website, laid out objectives, and called for membership registration. Dipke had previously worked for the AAP party and had political experience.
On June 6, Dipke returned from the US and went straight to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where the CJP held its first protest, demanding the resignation of Federal Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. However, the rally drew only about 2,000 people. Dipke initially set a 5 pm deadline for the minister's resignation, then extended it by seven days. After his speech, exhausted by the heat, he left early.
CJP spokesperson, journalist Saurav Das, said the protest still made an impact: “We were formed less than a month ago, yet we gathered a significant crowd. Organising takes time.”
The following week, the CJP held a second rally in Pune, Maharashtra. Ayush Shimpi – at his home over 900 km away – said: “But I feel my voice is being heard. The CJP raises our issues and keeps democracy alive.”
The CJP planned nationwide protests, culminating in a return to New Delhi if the minister did not resign. An online petition demanding Pradhan's dismissal gathered over 800,000 signatures.
On June 15, during a protest in Jaipur, a man pretending to be a CJP supporter approached and slapped Dipke several times. Dipke later wrote on X: “Physical attack is a sign of fear and cowardice. We will continue to speak peacefully.”
Prime Minister Modi posted on X on June 13: “Our government is working towards youth-led development.” The CJP spokesperson criticised: “This is hypocrisy. The PM is silent on the suicides and exam leaks.”
The CJP also held protests in Amritsar, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and elsewhere, with thousands attending. Slogans opposed the BJP's “Hindu-Muslim politics” and criticised mainstream media (calling it “godi media”).
The CJP focused heavily on social media. The party's Instagram page gained over 22 million followers in less than a month; protest videos surpassed 400 million views.
Journalist and author Saba Naqvi noted that in an era where “screen life” becomes reality, the CJP is “a unique movement.” The CJP helps many overcome the fear of speaking their minds.
At the Pune rally, the CJP unveiled an “exam manifesto,” including: 10,000 rupees compensation per candidate in case of leaks, transparent exam procedures, realistic grading, and independent audits of exam-conducting contracts. CJP representatives planned to meet lawmakers from different parties to push the manifesto.
Veteran journalist Ashutosh said the CJP needs more credible figures from civil society to boost its legitimacy. However, Das rejected that: “The younger generation lives on the internet. We have no trouble getting our message across.”
The protest in Lucknow on June 12 saw Aarav Dwivedi, 17, who is preparing for medical exams. “My parents advised me not to go. But I still went because many people I knew were going. What if corruption continues forever?” he said.
Journalist Ajaz Ashraf argued the CJP reflects youth anxiety over education corruption, unemployment, and the cost of living. “People come voluntarily despite fear of reprisal from authorities. For political change, opposition parties need to ride this wave.”
Al Jazeera contacted the Congress party, which declined to comment officially.
