Indian Students' 'Cockroach' Protest: Turning Insult into a Movement

India's youth are strongly protesting the Chief Justice and the government by adopting a derogatory nickname as a symbol of the movement to oust the regime. In May, during court remarks regarding youth unemployment, Indian Chief Justice Surya Kant likened some unemployed youth to 'cockroaches.' Students are participating in the 'Cockroach Junta Party,' launched by political strategist Abhijit Dipke in May, and are using the term as a political designation.

On July 20, 2026, thousands of youth supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, marching towards Parliament to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Delhi Police estimated the crowd at around 10,000 that morning. Police denied permission for the protest and sealed the venue with barricades; television footage captured police batonning some protesters as they attempted to cross the barricades.

On May 3, the government invalidated the exam after confirming evidence of大规模 question leaks and irregularities related to NEET, the medical entrance qualification exam. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan characterized the youth group as the 'B-team' of terrorist forces and a disruptive element.