India’s ‘Cockroach Party’ Is Sparking National Debate

In May, India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant decided to make known his thoughts on the country’s young people.

“There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment and don’t have any place in the profession,” Kant said, in reference to college graduates who go into careers like journalism. He later retracted his statement following public outcry.

But by then it was too late.

“What if all the cockroaches come together?” 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke tweeted on May 15. With that, the satirical Cockroach Janta (People’s) Party (CJP) was born.

What if all cockroaches come together?

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) May 16, 2026

The CJP’s name is a send-up of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has held political power in the country for over a decade. Thousands of the party’s cockroaches — as they like to be called — are swarming the streets of India, demanding greater accountability in the government and education boards.

They have reason to be angry. India’s education system is going down the drain, and it’s flushing its cockroaches along with it.

Each year, millions of students compete for top spots at colleges and in the government. To say that students’ test results determine their future would be an understatement. In a country where over 65% of the population is under the age of 35 and roughly 11 million students graduate from high school each year, every point earned on a test can be the difference between life on the streets and a well-paying job that will support their families.

But the job shortage is not the only challenge Indian students face as they enter the workforce. Over the past decade, repeated exam paper leaks have plagued the country’s education system, erasing years of students’ preparation and hard work. 

On July 24, the CJP called for the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of failing to safeguard exams. The next day, he resigned.

Pune!!! Wow!!! https://t.co/6JHDzjyE8C

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 24, 2026

This is a major scandal. Poor Indians often spend their nights under street lamps, using what little glow they can capture to prepare for entrance examinations. Stories fill the Indian tabloids of parents who sacrifice everything they own for their children to study for these tests.

But the CJP does not limit itself to protesting against the corrupt education system. Cockroaches also advocate for greater social change in India, such as freedom of the press and women’s safety.

The CJP has called for media conglomerates to have their exclusive licenses canceled so independent media can flourish. Cockroaches are also voicing their disgust over the increasingly dangerous conditions for women. In New Delhi — which is notorious for being the most dangerous city for women in India.

When women don’t reciprocate a man’s attention, sometimes a man will throw acid on the girl’s face to permanently blind her and disfigure her skin. In addition, when a wife’s family is unable to meet the monetary and property demands of the husband’s family in the form of a dowry, the woman may face severe abuse and even death. By calling attention to what has been going on in India for years, the CJP is showing they want India to be better.

Many prominent Indians have joined the satirical party, including Kirti Azad, a famous cricket player who helped India win the 1983 cricket World Cup. To spread even more awareness, Sonam Wangchuk, a well-known Indian activist, went on a hunger strike for 26 days. This increased the CJP’s popularity and even sparked discussions with members of India’s Parliament. After Wangchuk ended his strike, Modi urged him to follow his doctor’s advice and said he would pray for Wangchuk to have good health.

History is rife with examples of student-led movements that demanded more from their political leaders. Take the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. Protesters jingled their keys in the air to tell the ruling Communist Party it was time to pack their bags and lock the doors behind them. Despite being met with violence from police, protesters continued to rattle their keys and demand an end to communist rule. The movement was successful and eventually led to the end of communism in the country. 

While CJP protests are largely nonviolent, cockroaches have faced tear gas, police batons, and other acts of intimidation from authorities. But that hasn’t stopped them from challenging corruption and demanding accountability. Only time will tell whether the CJP succeeds in bringing about meaningful change. But if change can begin with the jingling of keys, why can’t it begin with the marching of cockroaches?