India’s viral “cockroach” youth group has signalled a new phase of mobilisation days after their massive Gen Z-led protests forced the resignation of the country’s education minister.
Speaking at a gathering of volunteers in the capital Delhi on Wednesday, Cockroach Janata Party founder (CJP) Abhijeet Dipke alleged that his group had been prevented from holding a planned meeting at a banquet hall under pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mr Dipke said he planned to return with the movement after its 36-day agitation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar was called off on 25 July.
"Many people were commenting on Instagram when Season 2 of 'Jantar-Mantar' will begin. I want to tell them that Season 2 of 'Jantar Mantar' is going to start very soon,” he said, referring to the protest site in Delhi.
Mr Dipke said the party had struggled to find a venue for a volunteers' meeting, with several hall owners allegedly refusing to rent their premises.
"We were scheduled to hold our volunteers' meet in Delhi today. We were looking for a hall, but no one would rent us one. Everyone kept saying there was pressure from above (government)," Mr Dipke said.
He claimed the group eventually secured a venue, only for its owners to receive threats on the morning of the meeting.
Mr Dipke accused prime minister Narendra Modi’s BJP of being behind the intimidation. The Independent has reached out to the BJP for comment.
But he said the alleged attempts to disrupt the meeting had helped the movement.
"The more they go against us, the more it works in our favour. They're unable to understand how to deal with us,” he said.
"Today also they thought if they threaten the banquet hall we won't hold the meet. Now the closed door meeting has become a public event. I think they want a Jantar Mantar everywhere," Mr Dipke added.
The CJP's original Jantar Mantar protest was centred on the alleged paper leak of a key undergraduate medical entrance exam and demands concerning education.
It ended after the then federal education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the government agreed to the protesters' other key demands – including assurance of no police action against them.
The demonstration had drawn students and young volunteers from across India, as well as opposition leaders.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on 28 June and later began an indefinite hunger strike before being taken to Safdarjung Hospital in the city when his health deteriorated.
The group has since sought to broaden its campaign beyond the original protest.
Its chief spokesperson, Saurav Das, said it was beginning a nationwide "listening tour" to hear from the public, with education among its first priorities.
"This itself is Season Two. Protests are taking place across the country against such incompetent governments and officers. On behalf of CJP, we are now embarking on a nationwide 'listening tour' to hear what the public has to say. We will run a campaign, and we are prioritising the issue of education starting from Independence Day."
Mr Dipke said Wednesday's meeting had been intended to discuss support for a student-led agitation in the eastern state of Jharkhand.
"Ranchi protest is led by Devendra Mahto, who is sitting on a hunger strike. Our volunteers are supporting. Today we were going to discuss how to strengthen the Jharkhand agitation, and how to continue our campaign for schools in villages," he said.
The group has also called on village heads and parents to improve basic facilities in government schools, including electricity, water, toilets and midday meals. Dipke has urged parents to document deficiencies and said the CJP would launch a form to collect information on school infrastructure.
