In pictures: 'Cockroaches' descend on New Delhi as party of social media fame stages protest
Young students gathered in New Delhi on Saturday for the first street protest by the satirical โCockroach Janta Partyโ (CJP) over alleged irregularities in recent major examinations. Carrying paper cockroach masks and pamphlets, the protesters called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who has faced criticism over the irregularities, including question paper leaks and technical glitches. The CJP has garnered millions of followers on social media since its launch last month. Modiโs government has blocked the movementโs X account in the country, a move the CJP has challenged in a Delhi court. Political analysts say the groupโs popularity has begun to dent Modiโs image despite his partyโs recent victories in key state elections, even as wider frustration grows over rising fuel prices and gas shortages brought by the Iran war. Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), holds a copy of โMy Autobiographyโ by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as he gestures towards his supporters upon his arrival at an airport in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), holds a copy of โMy Autobiographyโ by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar upon his arrival at an airport in New Delhi, India, June 6, 2026. โReuters Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gather during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters A person wearing a mask holds a poster which reads โI am a Cockroachโ, as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) await the arrival of Abhijeet Dipke, head of the CJP, on the day of a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gather during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), speaks to supporters of the CJP during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke (C, right) shouts slogans during a protest over alleged irregularities in the countryโs major examinations, in New Delhi on June 6, 2026. โAFP Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), requests supporters to maintain peace during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters A person wears a cockroach themed mask, as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) await the arrival of Abhijeet Dipke, head of the CJP, on the day of a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), speaks to supporters of the CJP during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters A person wears a cockroach themed mask, as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) await the arrival of Abhijeet Dipke, head of the CJP, on the day of a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India, June 6, 2026. โ Reuters Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke (C) takes part in a protest over alleged irregularities in the countryโs major examinations, in New Delhi on June 6, 2026. โAFP Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters shout slogans during a protest over alleged irregularities in the countryโs major examinations, in New Delhi on June 6, 2026. โAFP Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gather during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India on June 6, 2026. โReuters A person holds a cockroach themed mask, as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) await the arrival of Abhijeet Dipke, head of the CJP, on the day of a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India, June 6, 2026. โ Reuters Header image: A girl wears a cockroach themed mask, as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) listens to Abhijeet Dipke, head of the CJP, during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in New Delhi, India, June 6, 2026. โ Reuters