"The Cockroaches Are Coming"... Outraged Gen Z Group Holds First Street Protest

Chief Justice's Remarks Spark Collective Action Among Indian Youth

Cockroach People's Party Attracts 22 Million Instagram Followers

Outpouring of Frustration Over Youth Unemployment and Lack of Opportunity

In India, the youth political movement group known as the Cockroach People’s Party (CJP), which emerged following remarks by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has staged its first street protest. What began as an online movement has expanded into offline rallies, amplifying calls for the resignation of the Education Minister.

On June 7 (local time), AP, AFP, and other outlets reported that hundreds of CJP supporters held a protest near the Parliament in New Delhi the day before. Participants wore cockroach masks made of paper, carried Indian flags and books, and chanted slogans such as "The cockroaches are coming" and "Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must step down."

On June 6, 2026, in New Delhi, India, during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a supporter of the Cockroach People's Party wore a cockroach-shaped mask while waiting for the arrival of party leader Abhijit Deepke. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency

The CJP was formed last month immediately after remarks by Indian Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant, who compared unemployed youth to cockroaches. Chief Justice Kant criticized some young people, saying, "There are young people like cockroaches without jobs or professional fields," which drew strong public backlash. He later clarified that his comments were meant to point out holders of fake law degrees, but controversy persisted. In response, young people embraced the term as the name of their group, rallying together and rapidly expanding their influence, particularly through social networking services (SNS).

Logo of the 'Cockroach People's Party' (CJP). Screenshot from the CJP website

Currently, the CJP’s Instagram account has about 22 million followers, a figure that far exceeds the official account of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Abhijit Deepke, the Indian founder of the group, stated that this movement aims to change India’s political discourse.

This protest was organized in response to last month's leak of questions from the nationwide medical school entrance examination, which was taken by 2.2 million candidates across India. In a statement, the CJP demanded that Minister Pradhan resign voluntarily within a week or that Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismiss him, warning that if no action is taken, the movement will expand nationwide.

Abhijit Deepke (center), founder of the Cockroach People’s Party (CJP), is giving a speech in front of supporters during a protest rally held in New Delhi, India. New Delhi=Yonhap News Agency

Both within and outside the political sphere, observers note that this movement represents more than a fleeting online trend; it is seen as a case in which the dissatisfaction of the younger generation has manifested in collective action. Mansi Sehgal, a participant in the protest, said, "The exam leak was the trigger, but the bigger issue is that young people lack spaces to voice their concerns," adding, "CJP is fulfilling exactly that role."

Experts point out that the CJP phenomenon is rooted in discontent over youth unemployment and lack of opportunities. Although India is the world's most populous country, with about 400 million people aged 15 to 29, the urban youth unemployment rate in April stood at 14%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.