CJP protest destroyed PM's public image of more than 2 decades in just 2 weeks: Arundhati Roy
Author Arundhati Roy claims that recent youth-led protests at Jantar Mantar have significantly damaged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's long-standing public image. She suggests this mobilization represents a major political shift, though she warns that the government's control over state institutions remains a significant challenge.
Why it matters
It highlights the potential for grassroots movements to challenge established political narratives and the ongoing tension between civil society and state power in India.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led youth protest at Jantar Mantar "destroyed" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public image of more than two decades in just two weeks and delivered a political blow that is "bigger than any election victory", acclaimed author Arundhati Roy has said.
Speaking at the launch of the Hindi translation of her book Mother Mary Comes to Me , titled Meri Maa, Meri Gangster , on Monday (August 3, 2026), Ms. Roy argued that while electoral victories and defeats are only one aspect of politics, the recent public mobilisation had shown that even narratives built over decades could be shaken within weeks.
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