Who are India's 'Cockroach' Party? The youth movement leading Modi's biggest public challenge in years

SBS Nepali

A handout photo made available by the South Korean Air Force shows Air Force Brigade General Lee Hyung-man (C), chief of the 20th Fighter Wing, giving a pep talk at an air base in Seosan, South Korea, 14 July 2. — Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party scuffle with police as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, Monday, July 20, 2026. Source: AP / Vipin/AP Photo/Vipin

In one of the largest displays of public dissent against the Modi government, tens of thousands of protesters have descended on India's parliament to demand the education minister resign. Led by the rapidly growing youth-led "Cockroach" movement, demonstrators are calling for changes to what they say is a corrupt and broken education and employment system.

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Published 23 July 2026 6:30pm

By Sydney Lang

Presented by SBS Nepali

Source: SBS

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In one of the largest displays of public dissent against the Modi government, tens of thousands of protesters have descended on India's parliament to demand the education minister resign. Led by the rapidly growing youth-led "Cockroach" movement, demonstrators are calling for changes to what they say is a corrupt and broken education and employment system.

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