What’s behind the protests and cockroaches in India? | ABC NEWS
Under the oppressive heat of New Dehli’s monsoon rain, thousands of young Indians flooded the capital this week, attempting to march to parliament before police and paramilitary forces fired tear gas and sound cannons, and used batons to break up crowds.
Rather than quell the dissent, the show of force from authorities has spurred defiance across the country and the world.
From Mumbai and Goa to London and New York, young Indians have taken to the streets, showing the power of the world’s largest youth population.
At the centre is Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old student who is fast becoming the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12-year reign.
On May 16, 2026, Mr Dipke founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement that launched on social media after remarks made by one of India’s most senior judges, describing unemployed young people as “cockroaches”.
Video by Rachel Clayton.
Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated.
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