What began as a brief, six-word tweet on May 16 has evolved into one of the most significant youth-led protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since 2014. The tweet, penned by 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke, questioned, “What if all cockroaches come together?”—a pointed response to Supreme Court judge Surya Kant’s controversial remarks comparing India’s unemployed youth to “cockroaches.” Although Kant later clarified his statement had been misunderstood, Dipke’s post quickly gained viral traction.
In the wake of this viral moment, a satirical movement named the “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) emerged, becoming a unifying platform for millions of young Indians frustrated by issues such as rampant unemployment, exam paper leaks, and demands for greater government accountability. Over the past week, tens of thousands have gathered in New Delhi, calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the leak of the medical entrance exam paper, which impacted around 2 million students and has been linked to several tragic student suicides. Pradhan stepped down on Saturday, marking a significant victory for the protesters and a notable setback for Modi’s government.
Protests have also spread to other major cities, including Mumbai, the country’s financial capital. At the forefront of this movement is Dipke himself. Until early June, he was based in Boston, USA, where he was pursuing a master’s degree in public relations. He returned to India on June 6 to spearhead protests near the Jantar Mantar observatory in central Delhi. Since then, especially after a police crackdown on demonstrators on Monday that sparked widespread outrage, Dipke has become a prominent figure at the protest site, often seen addressing crowds from a raised platform.
With his casual attire of a T-shirt and jeans and a distinctive beard, Dipke urges protesters to maintain peaceful demonstrations while sustaining pressure on the government. Although the CJP has multiple organizers, Dipke has emerged as its most recognizable face, attracting both praise and criticism.
Born in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, into a Dalit family—one of India’s historically marginalized communities—Dipke’s background has deeply influenced his political outlook. He has spoken openly about his father’s humble origins and his grandfather’s life as a farmer. Upon arriving in Delhi, Dipke held up a copy of “My Autobiography” by B.R. Ambedkar, a key figure in Dalit rights and the architect of India’s constitution, symbolizing his commitment to social justice.
Dipke’s political engagement began in 2020 when he joined the social media team of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), where he honed a style of political communication centered on memes, humor, and satire. Although he is no longer affiliated with AAP, the party and several other opposition groups have expressed support for the movement.
The movement’s growth was accelerated by Delhi-based YouTuber Meghnad S., who, along with a friend, used AI tools to create a satirical website announcing the formation of the Cockroach Janta Party shortly after Dipke’s tweet. The Instagram account linked to the movement quickly amassed 22 million followers within days, recently increasing to 25 million, reflecting the organic spread of the campaign.
From Boston, Dipke described the movement as an effort to reshape India’s political discourse, emphasizing that the country’s youth had largely been absent from mainstream politics. Despite facing threats against himself and his family, Dipke chose to return to India and has vowed to remain until justice is served for the students affected by the exam leak. Since June 6, he has been a constant presence at the protest site, balancing moments of addressing crowds, engaging with the media, and resting briefly, all while calling for nonviolent resistance.
