CJP traces the origin of the name to a May session in which CJI Kant used “cockroaches” and “parasites” for unemployed youth and later clarified that he meant holders of fake diplomas
“Thanks for calling us cockroaches.” That was Abhijit Debaki’s message on Saturday to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, delivered from the Jantar Mantar dais, minutes after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister under pressure from the movement that owes its origin and name to remarks made by India’s chief justice.
“I would like to thank CGI Surya Kant. If he had not called us cockroaches, I would not have come to India. This movement would not have started,” the founder of the Kokruche Janta Party told his supporters.
This commentary traces the movement to its point of origin, the May 15 Supreme Court hearing on the appointment of senior advocate, during which the CJI noted that “there are young people who are like cockroaches, who are not getting any work and have no place in the profession.” Kant later said that the remark was only directed at holders of fake law degrees, not the widespread unemployed youth.
He has since reiterated that sections of the media misquoted him. The clarifications did little to prevent the statement from spreading widely.
Debke, then a student based in Boston and previously worked as a communications strategist for the Aam Aadmi Party, posted a witty response to X the next day. On May 16, he announced the launch of the Kokroche Janta Party, describing it as a platform for “all the cockroaches out there”, with the eligibility criteria listed as being unemployed, lazy, chronically online, and able to scream professionally.
The satirical post gained traction during late May as anger over the leak of NEET-UG papers grew, and Debki returned to India in early June to personally lead protests near Jantar Mantar.
The movement’s main demand – Pradhan’s resignation over examination irregularities – gained further weight when education activist Sonam Wangchuk joined an indefinite hunger strike on 28 June. Wangchuk’s fast lasted 26 days before he ended it earlier this week, after the center gave written assurances that no cases would be registered against peaceful protesters, that Parliament would take up examination and accountability reforms, and that compensation would be considered for the families of students who died by suicide after the alleged paper leak.
The CJP has stuck by Pradhan’s resignation even after the end of the Wangchuk fast, despite the devastating blow imposed on the protesters on July 20 and the government’s tough stance that is slowly beginning to crack.
Pradhan, in his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said he was acting “keeping the future of students in mind” and claimed that the decision was about ensuring “anti-national elements do not take advantage of the situation in Jantar Mantar and across the country”.
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