A growing youth movement, fueled by an online meme, has emerged as a formidable challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. Demonstrators, who have taken to the streets in Delhi, recently trampled a poster of the prime minister while chanting “thief, thief,” marking a rare and bold display of defiance against a government that has historically suppressed dissent with efficiency. For 12 years, the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) has maintained power, but the emergence of the “cockroach” movement has signaled a shift in the political landscape, driven by a generation that is fed up and unafraid.
The movement originated from the “Cockroach Janata party” (CJP), a parody group founded by 30-year-old Abhijit Dipke, who recently completed a master’s degree at Boston University. The name was a deliberate response to comments attributed to India’s chief justice, Surya Kant, who reportedly referred to unemployed youth and activists as “parasites” and “cockroaches” during a court hearing, though he later denied the remark. While the government initially dismissed the satirical group, it gained rapid traction online, with tens of millions following the movement as satire proved more representative of their frustrations than mainstream politics.
At the center of the unrest is a recurring scandal involving leaked medical college entrance exams. In one recent instance, the integrity of a test for 2.2 million students was compromised, forcing them to compete for only 130,000 spots a second time. The resulting desperation led to more than a dozen suicides. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing systemic corruption and chronic underfunding in the higher education sector. Dipke formalized the CJP’s objectives in early June, calling for accountability for the leaks and reform of the education system.
The protests escalated significantly toward the end of June when renowned engineer and activist Sonam Wangchuk joined in solidarity, announcing a hunger strike. Despite Delhi police refusing permission for a march on parliament, an estimated 100,000 protesters gathered, far exceeding the police's expectation of 10,000. Authorities responded with batons, teargas, and pellet guns, resulting in injuries that left hundreds in hospitals, some in intensive care. Among the injured was 17-year-old Deeksha Mishra, who stated she was protesting not only against exam leaks but also for the preservation of India’s democracy, noting that the government’s brutal response only hardened the resolve of the protesters.
Unlike previous demonstrations that the government could easily dismiss as being driven by religious or external actors, this movement is notably secular and diverse. Participants include children of BJP supporters, and protesters of various faiths have been seen praying and eating together at demonstration sites. A Muslim cook has gained celebrity status for feeding protesters, and Sikh gurdwaras have established community kitchens. Political columnist Tavleen Singh noted that the protesters are “clever” because they have reclaimed the nationalism card and secularism, using religion to unite rather than divide. Singh added that while Modi has historically been good at overcoming crises, he is currently facing a unique challenge. She stated, “I talk to people who are quite close to him and they’re all really puzzled and not sure what to do next. They say that he’s been listening to the wrong people and misread the mood completely.”
Crucially, the BJP has encountered the limits of its propaganda machine. While mainstream media outlets have long been co-opted to follow the government line—often referred to by protesters as “godi” or lapdog media—Gen Z activists have created their own information ecosystem. Sanna, a 26-year-old protester, criticized the mainstream media for broadcasting lies and labeling them as terrorists or anti-nationals, but emphasized that they are successfully getting their message out regardless. Anish Gawande, a young politician and champion of the movement, argued that the protests are erupting because young people no longer see a bright future in India. He noted that the promises made by the BJP since 2014 have failed to materialize, leading to a release of pent-up rage.
Aniruddh Gautam, a 21-year-old law student who participated in the Delhi protests, expressed the depth of the frustration felt by his generation, stating that the government had failed to deliver on its promises and that he would die for the cause if necessary. While the prime minister has promised action regarding the exam leaks, he has resisted calls to dismiss his education minister, a move that could be perceived as a sign of weakness for his strongman image. As the movement continues to challenge the government’s grip on power, political analyst Pratap Bhanu Mehta observed that the movement has successfully lifted a “pall of fear” that previously defined the political climate, making it difficult for the government to return to governing with impunity.
