A major demonstration took place in central New Delhi on Saturday, with supporters of the "Cockroach Party" participating. The Associated Press reported this.
According to reports, the movement, which appeared on the internet a few weeks ago as a joke, quickly became a symbol of youth discontent in India.
The rally was held at Jantar-Mantar Square and was the movement's first major test in moving from social media to the real-world arena. Organizers sought to determine whether online support could translate into real political influence.
The gathering was attended mainly by young people, who came out wearing cockroach masks and carrying placards. Some participants also brought national flags and books as symbols of education and equal opportunity.
The movement was sparked by a statement from India's Chief Justice Surya Kant, who compared critics and unemployed youth to cockroaches. These words caused widespread public outrage.
Subsequently, Boston University student Abhijit Deepak turned this phrase into a satirical political movement.
The "Cockroach Party" quickly went viral online, amassing millions of followers. Supporters of the movement have been demanding attention to issues of unemployment, corruption, and problems in the education system.
At Saturday's demonstration, the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was put forward as a key demand. However, the action soon expanded into a general protest against the economic hardships and limited future opportunities facing young people.
Participants chanted slogans such as "The cockroaches are coming — Dharmendra Pradhan is leaving!" and called on the government to pay attention to the problems of the youth.
