finance
Young Indians form satirical Cockroach Janta Party to protest unemployment
Hundreds gathered in New Delhi on June 6 wearing cockroach masks to launch a protest movement against joblessness and government policy. The group uses social media to recruit unemployed youth and calls for the removal of the education minister.
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Hundreds of young people assembled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 6 wearing masks depicting cockroach faces. The demonstration supported a newly formed satirical group called the Cockroach Janta Party. The term "cockroach" originated during a May Supreme Court hearing when the chief justice compared some young people to unemployed cockroaches and parasites.
An individual based in the United States later posted a call for "all cockroaches" to unite and created the party.
Protest demands and background The Cockroach Janta Party states its goals as opposing high youth unemployment, government corruption, and shortcomings in the education system. " India's unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 29 reached 9.9 percent in 2025, according to March data from the Indian Press Information Bureau.
The urban youth rate stood at 13.6 percent during the same period.
Social media reach and tactics The party's Instagram account has accumulated 22.7 million followers. Its X account holds nearly 300,000 followers after a temporary suspension. Organizers issued lighthearted instructions for Saturday's protest, including reminders to eat beforehand and to arrive in groups.
The demonstration specifically called for the dismissal of the education minister over the leaked NEET medical entrance exam. The movement has drawn comparisons to earlier youth-led actions in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal focused on employment and examination integrity.
