Tens of thousands of protesters, primarily students, are marching to India's Parliament to demand the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his education minister.
Key facts
- •The "cockroach" movement began as a satirical response to comments made by India's top judge regarding government critics.
- •Activist Sonam Wangchuk was removed by police from the Jantar Mantar protest site on July 18, 2026.
- •CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has been assaulted at least twice in the past month, including an attack with an ink-like substance.
- •The movement demands the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over frequent examination paper leaks.
- •The march is scheduled for the first day of the monsoon session of India's Parliament.
Tens of thousands of protesters, largely students identifying as the "cockroach" movement, are expected to march to India’s Parliament in New Delhi. The demonstration follows the forced removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from a month-long sit-in at Jantar Mantar. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing systemic issues including examination paper leaks and government inaction.
The Cockroach Movement's Origins
The movement is organized under the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical group founded by Abhijeet Dipke. The name originated from a joke after India's top judge compared government critics and unemployed youth to "cockroaches" and "parasites." The movement gained significant traction online, with Dipke, a former Boston University student, harnessing viral support into a physical protest at Jantar Mantar.
Escalation Following Activist's Removal
Tensions rose on Saturday when police forcibly removed Sonam Wangchuk, a 59-year-old educator who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days. While police cited a court order and health concerns, Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, alleged illegal detention. Following the incident, Dipke announced he would continue the hunger strike and expanded the movement's demands to include the resignation of Prime Minister Modi.
Demands and Political Context
Protesters are calling for sweeping reforms to India's competitive examination system and compensation for families of students who died by suicide linked to exam failures. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has refused to resign, labeling the protesters the "B team of terrorists." Meanwhile, New Delhi remains on high alert with heavy deployments of police and paramilitary forces ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament.
Timeline
- June 28, 2026Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
- July 8, 2026Wangchuk announced plans to march to Parliament to demand the education minister's resignation.
- July 18, 2026Police forcibly removed Wangchuk from the protest site and took him to a hospital.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Al Jazeera.
