From Instagram to Jantar Mantar: How internet reacted to Cockroach Janata Party's Jantar Mantar protest - Moneycontrol.com

Published 6 June 2026 · local

The social media collective's first protest at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak drew both praise and criticism, with supporters calling it youth-led activism

The social media collective's first protest at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak drew both praise and criticism, with supporters calling it youth-led activism and detractors dismissing it as internet-fuelled spectacle. From 22 million followers to a street protest: How internet reacted to Cockroach Janata Party's next step The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), the social media phenomenon that amassed more than 22 million Instagram followers within weeks, staged its first offline protest on Saturday at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, drawing attention both on the ground and online. The demonstration was held after CJP founder Abhishek Dipke arrived in India from the United States. Amid heavy police presence, protesters gathered to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy, one of the biggest issues to affect students and parents in recent years. How did internet react?

While the protest marked the group's transition from a digital movement to street activism, reactions on social media were sharply divided. Supporters hailed it as a sign of growing political engagement among young Indians, while critics dismissed it as a fleeting internet trend driven more by algorithms than ideology. Many users viewed the gathering as evidence that a new generation is increasingly willing to challenge established systems. One supporter described India's Gen Z as a generation determined to question the status quo and rewrite traditional rules across sectors, citing examples ranging from young cricket stars and chess prodigies to entrepreneurs building space and deep-tech startups. According to the user, young Indians are no longer waiting for permission to pursue change and innovation. The important thing is not what will happen of this CJP protest. The most important thing is that youth is coming out to protest.

It will take more for the fear to go. That's why these protests should keep happening so that nobody feels scared to protest in a democracy. Kaushik Raj (@kaushikrj6) June 6, 2026 Others focused on the significance of the protest itself rather than its immediate outcome. One commenter argued that the most important takeaway was the willingness of young people to participate in public demonstrations. The user said repeated protests are essential in a democracy because they help reduce fear and encourage citizens to voice their concerns without hesitation. Among those backing the protest was comedian Vir Das, who criticized what he described as cynicism surrounding youth activism. In a post, Das said many commentators would dismiss the protest as ineffective or unrealistic, but argued that young people have every right to be vocal about issues affecting them. He urged students to remain peaceful yet passionate, adding that demanding a fair and honest education system is a fundamental democratic right.