Hundreds of young students gathered in New Delhi on Saturday for the first street protest organized by the satirical Cockroach People's Party over alleged irregularities in recent major examinations. Protesters, some wearing paper cockroach masks in reference to reported remarks by India's top judge, called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over issues including question paper leaks and technical glitches.
Demand for Accountability
We want accountability from the government, said 16-year-old Utkarsh Raj, who hopes to pursue a medical career. How is it that exam papers get leaked in this country? How is this right?
The protest, closely watched by police officers in riot gear, was led by Abhijeet Dipke, whose parody Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has gained millions of social media followers since its launch last month. CJP is a play on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Voices of the Youth
This protest is for the future of this country. This protest is for jobs, said Dipke, a former political communications strategist for the opposition Aam Aadmi Party. The youth of the country will fight, added the 30-year-old organizer, who returned to India from the United States on Saturday.
The movement emerged after India's Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly compared young government critics to cockroaches and parasites during a court hearing, sparking outrage. Kant later stated his comments were taken out of context.
Broader Context of Discontent
Despite rapid economic growth, millions in the world's most populous nation struggle to find stable, well-paying jobs, fueling discontent. Last month, authorities canceled the nationwide medical college entrance test, one of the country's most competitive exams, after a question paper leak was uncovered. This followed another scandal involving the online marking system for tests taken by nearly two million high school students.
India deserves better administration of such crucial exams, said 20-year-old protester Sarthak, who provided only one name.
