Why tens of thousands of young Indians are calling themselves cockroaches

Hundreds of young people gathered in New Delhi wearing cockroach masks as part of a satirical movement called the "Cockroach Janta Party." The name is a play on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, with "janta" meaning "people" in Hindi, and the group has framed itself as a protest against unemployment, corruption, and failures in the education system.

The term "cockroach" entered public debate during a May Supreme Court hearing when Chief Justice Surya Kant compared some people to unemployed "cockroaches" and "parasites," later saying he was referring to those with bogus degrees. An India-based user, Abhijeet Dipke, asked, "What if all cockroaches come together?" and launched the CJP, inviting those who are "unemployed, lazy, chronically online," and able to "rant professionally" to join.

India, New Delhi

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