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How Cockroach Janta Party Became India's Viral Youth Movement Against Unemployment

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Abhijeet Dipke transformed a judicial insult into a digital uprising after India's Chief Justice Surya Kant labeled unemployed youth as cockroaches. The 30-year-old Boston University graduate launched the satirical Cockroach Janta Party on May 16, turning the slur into a badge of honor for millions of job-seeking Indians.

The movement exploded online, with some accounts quickly surpassing India's major political parties in followers. This surge reflects deep frustration among young Indians facing a 10% unemployment rate in the 15-29 age group, compared to just 3% overall. In 2022, ten million applicants vied for merely 35,000 railway positions, illustrating the brutal job market reality.

Government officials blocked the original social media handle, claiming it threatened national security, prompting Dipke to create 'Cockroach is Back.' The party now counts over one million registered members and has gathered nearly 800,000 signatures demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation following the voided medical school entrance exam affecting over two million students.

Dipke, a former Aam Aadmi Party volunteer, insists the movement remains independent despite political attacks. He's keeping 'cockroach' in the name because the insect represents resilience—turning what was meant as an insult into a symbol of indestructible pride for a generation feeling abandoned by their leaders.