NEW DELHI (AP) — A viral youth organization called the Cockroach Janta Party kicked off a nationwide demonstration effort Thursday, drawing hundreds of students and young activists to the western city of Pune in their latest display of political momentum.
The demonstration at Savitribai Phule Pune University came after the organization held its first significant street rally in New Delhi the previous week. Protesters are calling for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign due to accusations of testing misconduct and ongoing exam paper breaches.
Organization creator Abhijeet Dipke, who works in political communications strategy and studies at Boston University, spoke to the crowd and declared Thursday the beginning of a wider national effort. He revealed intentions for demonstrations in additional cities and warned that activists would head back to New Delhi this month if the education minister refuses to resign.
“The government cannot ignore the youth,” Dipke, who recently came back from the United States to spearhead the effort, stated to news media.
The organization started in May following Supreme Court judge Surya Kant’s comments that likened some jobless young people to “cockroaches,” sparking widespread anger. Activists adopted the label as a representation of strength, leading the organization to gain more than 22 million Instagram followers.
The organization’s platform has grown to encompass issues like joblessness, increasing cost of living, and holding government officials responsible.
The CJP combines self-mocking comedy with governmental critique. Members humorously describe themselves as jobless and constantly online, while their videos and internet content ridiculing unemployment, corruption, and political failures have garnered millions of views. Numerous copycat CJP profiles have similarly used the cockroach as a comedic political emblem.
