India’s Viral ‘Cockroach’ Movement Launches Indefinite Protest, Demands Education Minister’s Resignation

New Delhi: Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led political movement that began as a social media campaign, have launched an indefinite protest in the Indian capital, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over repeated examination controversies.

Dozens of protesters spent the night on roads and pavements near New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site despite heavy police deployment and efforts by authorities to disperse the gathering. Organisers say the demonstration will continue until the government addresses concerns over examination integrity and accountability.

The movement is led by Abhijeet Dipke, a recent graduate of Boston University, who returned to India earlier this month to transform the online campaign into a nationwide protest movement. Since its emergence, the group has attracted significant attention among young Indians frustrated by recurring reports of examination paper leaks, disputed results and limited employment opportunities.

India’s youthful population has been particularly affected by these issues, with millions of students competing annually for admission to universities and professional programmes.

The movement traces its origins to a viral social media post made by Dipke after remarks by India’s chief justice comparing young people to “cockroaches” sparked widespread criticism. What began as an online joke quickly evolved into a political campaign, with the Cockroach Janta Party attracting millions of followers across social media platforms.

In recent weeks, the group has organised demonstrations in several major cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Nagpur, drawing support from students and young professionals.

Among those participating in the protest is 18-year-old medical aspirant Sachin Kumar, who said he lost confidence in the examination system after a national medical entrance test was cancelled amid allegations of a question paper leak.

After spending a year preparing for the examination, Kumar said the controversy left him deeply disillusioned. Despite authorities conducting a retest for approximately 1.7 million students, he chose to remain at the protest site instead.

Many demonstrators argue that repeated irregularities have undermined trust in India’s competitive examination system and have called for greater accountability from policymakers.

The protests have also intensified amid reports of student mental health struggles linked to academic pressure and uncertainty surrounding examinations. Activists say concerns over fairness and transparency have become central issues for many young Indians.

According to participants, police have attempted to encourage protesters to leave the site through various measures, including restricting access to food and water for brief periods. Despite this, demonstrators have remained in place, holding discussions, cultural activities and overnight vigils.

Dipke has insisted that the movement will continue until the education minister steps down, arguing that public confidence in the examination system cannot be restored without political accountability.

The protest represents one of the most visible youth-led mobilisations in recent years and highlights growing frustration among students over education policies, examination management and employment prospects under the current government.

As the demonstration enters its next phase, attention is focused on whether the movement can maintain momentum and whether the government will respond to its demands.