India’s growing unemployment crisis and economic uncertainty have united a large section of the country’s Gen-Z population after a controversial remark by the Chief Justice of India triggered outrage among young people. The backlash began when unemployed and “idle” youths were compared to parasites like cockroaches, prompting frustrated young Indians to launch a satirical social media-driven platform called the “Cockroach Janata Party (CJP),” mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Since its emergence, the platform has rapidly become a voice for unemployed and economically distressed youths, highlighting issues such as inflation, lack of jobs, and growing frustration with the government. According to private surveys, many Indian Gen-Z citizens are delaying major life decisions due to unemployment and financial insecurity, with a significant number of them being educated but jobless. The controversial remarks by Chief Justice Surya Kant Mishra further intensified existing anger among the younger generation. Social media platforms have since been flooded with satirical content produced by CJP supporters, drawing attention to political failures and economic hardships through humor and sarcasm. Although the Chief Justice later clarified that his comments were directed at holders of fake degrees rather than young people in general, the controversy had already sparked a nationwide online movement. CJP founder Abhijeet Deepak, 30, defended the platform by saying that if young people are being compared to cockroaches, then society itself must have become deeply rotten, because cockroaches thrive in dirty environments. To join the Cockroach Janata Party, applicants reportedly must fulfill four conditions: they must be unemployed, idle, active online, and capable of expressing anger over social issues. More than one million people, mostly between the ages of 19 and 25, have already applied online to become members. Through Instagram and other social platforms, CJP supporters continue to criticize government failures and demand accountability from authorities using viral satirical content. In a surprising development, the platform’s Instagram following has reportedly surpassed that of the ruling BJP, often described as the world’s largest political party. One young Indian supporter said the movement reflects the deep anxiety and disappointment felt by the country’s youth, adding that the platform’s rapid popularity proves how frustrated many young people have become with the current situation. Experts say global conflicts, economic instability, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence are increasing uncertainty among young people worldwide. According to Reuters data, nearly 65 percent of India’s 1.4 billion population is under the age of 35, while unemployment among those aged 15 to 29 remains close to 10 percent.
New Gen-G protest in India, ‘Cockroach Party’ formed
