New Delhi, India. The founder of India’s viral Cockroach Janta Party arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to lead a protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, marking the movement’s first appearance on the streets. Dozens of police officers gathered near Jantar Mantar as protesters called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Return to India
Abhijeet Dipke, 30, who has lived in the United States for the past two years, had said his family and friends feared he could be arrested on his return to India.
Protest in New Delhi
Police barricaded some of the roads around Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi on Saturday. Officers used loudspeakers to direct people to the designated protest site.
Movement spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the protest was peaceful and focused on the country’s youth. He said Dipke was “ready for a long and big day in India’s politics”.
Government response
Modi’s government has blocked the movement’s X account in India, a move the Cockroach Janta Party has challenged in a Delhi court. Senior cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju has accused the group of seeking followers from Pakistan and the “anti-India gang”.
Online following and political impact
The group has amassed roughly 22 million Instagram followers since launching in mid-May. It has emerged as the largest online expression of dissent against Modi’s 12-year rule, driven by persistently high youth unemployment and repeated leaks of examination papers that threaten the careers of millions of students.
Political analysts say the group’s popularity has begun to affect Modi’s image despite his party’s recent victories in key state elections. Frustration has also grown over rising fuel prices and gas shortages linked to the Iran war.
Youth employment pressures
India has nearly 400 million people aged 15 to 29, and generating non-farm jobs for them remains one of the country’s biggest challenges despite rapid growth. The urban youth unemployment rate was nearly 14% in April. Economists say many educated young people are also stuck in low-paid or insecure jobs that do not match their skills.
