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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Modi is 'used to winning': He's facing an unprecedented threat to his power

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Ongoing story
  • Thousands of young Indians protested in New Delhi against unemployment and examination system irregularities, facing police force.
  • Abhijeet Dipke founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) after a Supreme Court justice described unemployed youth as "cockroaches."
  • The CJP gained millions of followers rapidly on social media, highlighting widespread youth frustration.

Under the oppressive heat, thousands of young Indians flooded New Delhi demanding accountability and a better future, only to be met by police using tear gas, sound cannons, and batons. Authorities' forceful dispersal of protesters attempting to march on parliament has ignited defiance across India and globally, with young Indians in cities from Mumbai to London taking to the streets.

What if all cockroaches come together?

— Abhijeet DipkeDipke posted this on X after a Supreme Court justice's controversial remarks about unemployed youth.

At the heart of this burgeoning movement is Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old student who has become a significant challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12-year rule. Dipke founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement launched on social media on May 16, 2026, following remarks by Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant. Justice Kant described unemployed young people as "cockroaches" who "don't get any employment."

There are youngsters, like cockroaches; they don't get any employment. They don't have any place in a profession.

— Justice Surya KantThe Supreme Court Chief Justice's remarks that inspired the formation of the Cockroach Janta Party.

Dipke, then studying in Boston, posted on X, "What if all cockroaches come together?" The post garnered millions of engagements, and a CJP Instagram page quickly amassed over 1 million followers within a day, reaching nearly 25 million today. "I realised that there is some genuine frustration among the youth regarding unemployment and regarding the irregularities in the examination system of India," Dipke told 7.30.

I realised that there is some genuine frustration among the youth regarding unemployment and regarding the irregularities in the examination system of India.

— Abhijeet DipkeDipke explained the motivation behind the CJP's rapid growth on social media.

He noted that this frustration has been building for years, and the youth have "given up on all existing political parties." Dipke, an introvert, finds his new role as a public face challenging but necessary. The CJP's formation coincided with a wave of corruption allegations, including the cancellation of a national medical entrance exam due to leaked questions, forcing 2 million students to retake it and leading to 20 student suicides. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has faced blame.

This frustration and this disappointment have been there for quite some years now, and clearly they have given up on all existing political parties.

— Abhijeet DipkeDipke described the long-standing disillusionment of Indian youth with the political establishment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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