India’s youth strain to be heard in angry ‘cockroaches’ New Delhi march

Thousands of angry young protesters gathered in New Delhi on June 6 under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a viral youth movement demanding justice for exam paper leaks and systemic failures. The protest targeted Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with demonstrators calling for his resignation and fairer exam administration by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The movement gained momentum after the NEET-UG medical entrance exam was canceled on May 12 due to leaks, with question papers reportedly sold for up to 3 million rupees. The CJP emerged after Chief Justice Surya Kant’s May remarks labeling unemployed youth as 'cockroaches,' sparking outrage and uniting disillusioned graduates. Protesters wore cockroach masks, held signs like 'Accountable Government Not Found,' and carried Indian flags and Constitution copies to emphasize peaceful demands. Founder Abhijeet Dipke, who returned from the US, joined the rally, alongside education reformer Sonam Wangchuk from Ladakh. Unemployment among Indian graduates aged 25 and below stands at nearly 40%, according to the Azim Premji University report, fueling frustration over broken systems. The CJP’s Instagram following (22.2 million) now surpasses Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP party (9.4 million), reflecting its rapid growth and influence. Protesters also criticized the NTA’s repeated failures, with one NEET-UG candidate, Utkarsh Raj, expressing lost faith in the agency after years of leaks. The June 6 march marked the CJP’s first major offline protest, blending satire with serious demands for transparency in education and economic reforms. Organizers emphasized nonviolence, even offering flowers to deployed police. The movement’s viral success underscores deep discontent among India’s youth, who see systemic corruption and inequality as barriers to opportunity.