India’s viral Gen-Z ‘Cockroach Party’ protesters are gearing up for Season 2
Indian authorities have detained leaders of the youth-led 'Cockroach Janta Party' ahead of a major protest in New Delhi. The movement, which began as a viral internet joke, is now challenging the Election Commission over alleged disenfranchisement.
Why it matters
The movement highlights growing political unrest among India's Gen-Z population and the government's increasingly aggressive response to youth-led dissent.
Indian police have detained the founder of a surging youth-led political movement and hundreds of protesters in a crackdown ahead of a major planned protest in the capital New Delhi. Abhijeet Dipke was detained along with other leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party as their plane landed in New Delhi, according to the group. Footage shows Dipke shouting “go ahead and arrest us! Victory to Mother India! Long live the revolution!” The CJP started out in May as a Gen-Z internet joke that went viral. In July, it forced the government into its biggest climbdown in years. Now the party is back for what it is billing as Season 2 of its political movement.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in