India’s “Cockroach” Protest Becomes Major Headache for Modi

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) began in May this year as a satirical response to comments from India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant, who ignited fury when he reportedly referred to certain unemployed young people and activists as “cockroaches”.

The Supreme Court sought to downplay Kant’s comments, but the phrase quickly gained viral status and inspired the CJP – which translates as the “Cockroach People’s Party” – as a vehicle for youth dissatisfaction.

The movement’s website lists a number of demands and petitions, foremost among which is the sacking of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The petition had received 872,180 signatures at the time of writing. A similar appeal supporting the demands of activist and hunger striker Sonam Wangchuk had attracted 160,385 signatures and calls for the education minister’s resignation and compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the alleged paper leaks.

Pradhan is viewed as ultimately responsible for failures in the education system, including the cancellation and subsequent rescheduling of the examination after allegations that the paper had been leaked and circulated among students.

Around two million candidates take the NEET each year. Many of them and their families face considerable financial and emotional pressure because of the intense preparation required. The disruption therefore caused severe uncertainty and anxiety among students.

Reports have circulated in the Indian media of students committing suicide in the wake of the exam cancellation, with CJP activists laying responsibility at Pradhan's feet – representing a significant challenge for Prime Minister Modi.

The political difficulty has been compounded by senior opposition figures, such as brother and sister Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, joining the protesters and championing their cause.

The central protests erupted on 20 July, when protesters undertook a march to the Parliament in New Delhi. 

The crowds were met by police, who blocked the procession and used tear gas and batons, resulting in clashes that left hundreds of protesters and law enforcement personnel injured.

Confrontations have continued throughout the week, with protesters gathering at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in the nation’s capital. Authorities have attempted to limit access to the demonstrations, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation restricting access to 16 metro stations across the city this morning “till further instructions”.

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Modi and his ruling BJP will be keen to avoid a buildup of anger among the country’s youths, the likes of which led to the toppling of governments in nearby Bangladesh in 2024 and Nepal in 2025.

Both Gen Z uprisings ultimately saw their respective governments overthrown.

The Indian Government's Young People Problem

According to an academic report on Youth in the Labour Market released by Azim Premji University, India boasts the largest youth population – defined as those between the ages of 15 and 29 – with 367 million people in this category making up one third of the country's working-age population. 

Of them, 263 million are not in education and constitute the potential workforce, the study said.

It further stated that in India, the youth unemployment rate is four times the non-youth unemployment rate and significantly higher than the global average.

The report found that while education has surged in India, “the transition from education to employment remains a major challenge, particularly for graduates”. 

“Graduate unemployment among the 15- to 29-year-olds remains high – nearly 40% among the 15- to 25-year-olds, and 20% among the 25- to 29-year-olds; and, only a small share secure stable salaried jobs within a year of graduation”, it said.