Cockroach Janta Party founder arrives in New Delhi to lead anti-Modi protest

WEB DESK: The founder of India’s viral “Cockroach Janta Party” youth movement arrived in the capital on Saturday to lead his first street protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, marking a significant shift from online dissent to physical mobilisation.

Abhijeet Dipke, 30, who had been living in the United States for the past two years, reached New Delhi amid concerns from his family and friends that he could face arrest.

Dozens of police officers were deployed near Jantar Mantar, with roads barricaded as protesters gathered to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Government blocks social media account

The Modi government has blocked the movement’s X (formerly Twitter) account in India, a decision the group has challenged in the Delhi High Court. Senior cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Cockroach Janta Party of seeking support from Pakistan and “anti-India” elements.

Since its launch in mid-May, the movement has rapidly gained around 22m followers on Instagram, emerging as the largest online platform for youth discontent against the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s 12-year rule.

Youth unemployment fuels discontent

The protests are driven by persistent high youth unemployment and repeated leaks of examination papers that have jeopardised the futures of millions of students.

Political analysts note that the group’s popularity is beginning to erode Modi’s image, despite the BJP’s recent successes in state elections.

India is home to nearly 400m people aged 15 to 29, and creating adequate non-farm jobs for this demographic remains a major challenge despite the country’s rapid economic growth.

The urban youth unemployment rate stood at nearly 14pc in April, with many educated young people trapped in low-paid or mismatched employment.

A spokesperson for the movement, Ashutosh Ranka, described the gathering as “a peaceful movement for the youth of the nation”, adding that Dipke was prepared for a “long and big day in India’s politics”.

Wider public frustration has also grown over rising fuel prices and gas shortages linked to the ongoing Iran war. Police used loudspeakers to guide protesters to the designated site at Jantar Mantar.