A Supreme Court judge called them “cockroaches.” Within days, the insult had become a rallying cry for millions of young Indians.
Abhijeet Dipke, a 24-year-old student at Boston University, is flying back to India on 6 June to lead what could become one of the most significant youth protests in recent Indian history — not for a traditional political party, but for a movement that began as a joke in a Google Form.
The “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) now claims 23 million followers globally. It has been suppressed by the government, rebranded online, and its founder has received death threats. Yet Dipke insists the movement is only growing stronger.
From insult to identity
The story began in a courtroom in northern India. Chief Justice Surya Kant, addressing unemployed youth during a hearing, referred to some of them as “cockroaches.” The remark was intended to describe their perceived persistence in seeking government jobs. Instead, it ignited fury.
Within hours, the hashtag #MainBhiCockroach (“I too am a cockroach”) was trending nationwide. University students, street vendors, job seekers and even politicians joined the trend, turning an insult into a symbol of resilience.
Dipke, then in the US, created a Google form for the Cockroach Janta Party as a parody. Within 48 hours, tens of thousands had signed up. Two weeks later, the movement had 23 million followers.
“It started as satire,” Dipke told FRANCE 24. “But when you see people who’ve never protested before joining in, you realise this isn’t a joke anymore.”
Death threats and government crackdown
Dipke says he has received death threats for three consecutive days. Messages promise to “shoot you at sight” and even travel to the US to kill him. His family in India is being targeted.
The Indian government’s response has been swift. The CJP’s X (formerly Twitter) account was withheld in India on “national security grounds”. Dipke claims the party’s website was taken down by authorities. The account reappeared hours later under the name “Cockroach is Back”.
“The more they try to suppress the CJP, the stronger it will rise,” Dipke said.
Despite the threats, Dipke has not backed down. He is returning to India voluntarily, not as a fugitive, but as a protester exercising his constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
The target: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
Dipke’s protest is not about the judge’s remark anymore. It is about exam chaos.
He has called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over what he describes as repeated examination-related lapses. These include delayed results, leaked papers, sudden schedule changes and confusion over exam centres — issues that have left millions of students anxious and angry.
“These aren’t just bureaucratic errors,” Dipke said. “They’re breaking young people’s dreams.”
The plan: From Delhi airport to Jantar Mantar
Dipke has laid out a clear, peaceful plan for 6 June:
- Arrive at Delhi airport on Saturday morning
- Supporters to join him at the terminal
- March together to Parliament Street police station
- Request permission to protest at Jantar Mantar
- Hold a peaceful demonstration if permission is granted
“Please join me at the airport,” Dipke said in an Instagram video. “Together we will go to the police station to ask for permission to hold a peaceful protest.”
He has repeatedly emphasised that the protest will follow the Constitution of India. He is also prepared for arrest.
Gen-Z’s moment?
The Cockroach Janta Party represents something new in Indian politics. It is not led by dynasties, funded by corporate donors or tied to traditional party structures. It is digital-first, youth-driven and выходе from frustration.
College students across India are wearing #MainBhiCockroach T-shirts. Posters showing cockroaches have appeared on hostel walls from Hyderabad to Delhi. The slur that was meant to humiliate has become a badge of defiance.
For millions of young Indians who feel invisible to the system, the cockroach is no longer an insult. It is an identity.
What happens next?
The June 6 protest could be a spark or a smouldering flame. The government may grant permission for Jantar Mantar, or it may deny it. Dipke may be arrested, or he may be allowed to protest peacefully.
One thing is certain: the movement has already changed the conversation. Young Indians are no longer asking whether they should protest. They are asking how they can.
As Dipke put it: “If we raise our voices together, they will definitely have to listen to us.”
The cockroach that was meant to be crushed has learned to march.
