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🇮🇹 Italy /Culture & Society

India's 'Cockroach Party' Protests Modi Government, Demands Minister's Resignation

From ANSA · () Italian

Translated from Italian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A satirical online group called the "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP) held its first mass street protest in New Delhi.
  • The protest demanded the resignation of the Education Minister over alleged irregularities in school exams and the cancellation of a medical entrance test.
  • The movement, founded by a Boston University student, aims to address youth concerns, including unemployment, and has garnered significant online and offline support.

A satirical online movement, the "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP), has transitioned from the digital sphere to the streets, organizing its first major protest in New Delhi. The group, which has amassed millions of online followers, directed its challenge towards Narendra Modi's government, drawing hundreds, possibly thousands, to the capital's center.

We are here to protest and to ensure that the government is held accountable for what happened.

— A 20-year-old protesterA young participant explains the motivation behind the protest.

The CJP, a parody of the ruling BJP party, uses the cockroach as its symbol. Demonstrators, some wearing cockroach masks, gathered to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest cited alleged irregularities in school examinations and the cancellation of a medical entrance test due to suspected information leaks as key reasons for the demand.

Founded just three weeks prior by Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old student at Boston University, the "Cockroach Party" name reportedly emerged after a judge allegedly compared unemployed youth to "parasites." The movement appears to resonate particularly with Generation Z, reflecting their anxieties about issues such as youth unemployment in a country where a significant portion of the population falls within the 15-29 age bracket.

It seems to me that the time has come for the government to listen to us instead of doing whatever it wants.

— A woman in her thirtiesA protester expresses frustration with the government's responsiveness.

Police maintained a heavy presence around the protest area, which was cordoned off. According to officials cited by the PTI news agency, six individuals were detained for allegedly attempting to cause disruption near the protest site. Participants expressed their frustration, with one 20-year-old stating, "We are here to protest and to ensure that the government is held accountable for what happened." Another protester added, "It seems to me that the time has come for the government to listen to us instead of doing whatever it wants."

Every time I see these situations with students, I find them really discouraging and I am already very disappointed, which is why I decided to join this protest.

— Another young protesterA young individual shares their disappointment and reason for joining the demonstration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ANSA in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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