Students in India protesting under the satirical banner of the “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) ended their five-week demonstration Saturday after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation.

The organisers hailed the resignation as a victory for the movement, while supporters continued to celebrate at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, where thousands had gathered during the protest.

The Cockroach Janta Party is not a registered political party, despite its name. What started as an online satirical campaign with an AI-generated cockroach mascot has become a broader platform, touching upon concerns about India’s education system, youth unemployment, and the integrity of examinations.

The movement gained national prominence after police cracked down earlier in the week when protesters trying to march to Parliament clashed with security forces. Protesters said excessive force was used while police said officers were also injured in the confrontation.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pradhan said he had resigned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the aspirations of young people and recent events surrounding the protests. He said his decision was also to prevent further unrest and to allow students to concentrate on their studies.

Following the announcement, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told supporters at the protest site that the campaign had been successful before demonstrators erupted in celebrations.

Though the organisers had called off the protest, many supporters stayed back at Jantar Mantar until evening. Police and volunteers were controlling the crowd, saying they would only intervene if public order was threatened.

The movement's origins

A statement by India's chief justice, who described some unemployed young people entering journalism and activism as “cockroaches”, triggered the movement. The phrase was seized on by campaigners as a sign of resilience and defiance, though he later clarified that he was talking specifically about those with fake academic credentials.

Political communications strategist Abhijeet Dipke headed the campaign, which quickly gained traction online, amassing millions of followers on Instagram alone.

Its main demands included reforms in India's examination system, stricter measures against exam paper leaks, greater accountability for education authorities and the resignation of the education minister.

A hunger strike attracts wider attention

The protests drew wider national and international attention after education activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protesters on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike.

Later, authorities took Wangchuk away from the protest site and took him to a hospital, where he continued to fast. He called off the strike after the government reportedly told him that it would take his concerns into account.

During the demonstrations, opposition politicians, civil society activists and a handful of public figures voiced their support for the movement. Protest sites also featured slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government.

Media outlets interviewed some protesters who said they had supported Modi in the past but were frustrated with his government’s handling of education and employment issues.

Political consequences

Opposition leaders welcomed Pradhan’s resignation, terming it a victory for students and youth.

The protests have become one of the biggest youth-led protests against the Modi government in recent years and reflect wider concerns over educational opportunities, competitive exams and job prospects.

The demonstrations also reignited comparisons to the farmers’ protests that resulted in the government repealing controversial agricultural laws in 2021 following months of sustained public pressure.

Following criticism of the handling of the protests, Modi announced plans to set up fast-track courts for examination paper leak cases and said the government was preparing new legislation aimed at strengthening penalties for exam-related fraud.

Campaign to continue, says Movement

The street protests may be over, but the wider campaign that has fuelled the movement will continue, Dipke said.

"Organisers will seek reparation for families of students who committed suicide following the cancellation of a major medical entrance exam and will persist in demanding accountability over alleged police misconduct during protests,” he said in a statement on X.

He ended his statement with the slogan that has become synonymous with the movement, "Remember, don't fuck with the cockroach.