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Why India's 'cockroaches' are a real threat to Modi
Posted
July 21, 2026
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94,915
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July 21, 2026
94,915
3,981
804
5.04%
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24:28Now PlayingViolence has erupted on the streets of Delhi after thousands of protesters supporting India’s Gen Z ‘cockroach’ movement marched towards parliament - and were met with police batons and tear gas.
But how did it all start?
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The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) first emerged in May after a Supreme Court judge compared unemployed young people to “cockroaches.”
And the young people didn’t just fight back, they embraced their new nickname. An online movement started with an AI-generated cockroach mascot - and its popularity exploded.
The group, which is calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign, says it wants to see change in jobs and education in India, where figures show 40% of graduates below the age of 25 are unemployed.
It comes after a scandal that saw millions of students forced to re-sit their exams when question papers were leaked.
The government has said it’s since taken steps to prevent future paper leaks and will punish those responsible.
The Chief Justice who made the initial 'cockroaches' comment, later told media his comment related to some people acquiring fraudulent degrees and did not target India’s youth, whom he called 'the pillars of a developed India'.
In this episode of the breakdown, we speak to Siddiq Wahid, historian and political analyst, and explore how a movement that started as an online joke has now disrupted Indian politics.
A warning, this report contains themes that some viewers may find distressing.
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Presenter: Ayshah Tull
Producers: Joe Lajszczuk, Harry Peet
Graphics: Ian Watkins
Series Producer: Joseph Keith
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