Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday expressed gratitude towards the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Surya Kant, saying that his remarks made in May this year, calling youngsters of the country ‘cockroaches’ had inadvertently given birth to a nationwide movement which ultimately culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Addressing the CJP supporters at Jantar Mantar shortly after the news of Pradhan’s resignation broke, Dipke reflected on the origins of the protest campaign, which began as an online satirical initiative before snowballing into a nationwide agitation over alleged irregularities in pan-India competitive exams. 

He said in an address to CJI Kant, “Thanks for calling us cockroaches. I would like to thank CJI Surya Kant. If he hadn’t called us cockroaches, I wouldn’t have come to India. This movement would not have started.”

Movement originated after CJI’s remark during hearing

The CJP traces its origins to a hearing in the Top court on May 15, 2026, concerning the designation of senior advocates. During the proceedings, CJI Kant remarked that ‘there are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment and don’t have any place in the profession.’

On the following day, he clarified that the observation was directed only at people holding bogus law degrees and was not intended as a comment on unemployed youth in general. He added that sections of the media had misquoted his remarks. 

Despite the clarification, his comment began spreading rapidly on social media and triggered an intense public debate.

Dipke creates CJP account, flies down to India from the US

Dipke, who was then based in Boston in the United States (US) as a student, and had earlier worked as a communications strategist with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), responded to the controversy with a satirical post on ‘X’. 

On May 16, he created accounts on various social media platforms carrying the name ‘Cockroach Janta Party,’ describing it as a platform for all the ‘cockroaches’ out there. In a tongue-in-cheek message, he listed the movement’s eligibility criteria as being lazy, unemployed, chronically online and capable of ranting professionally. 

However, the online satirical movement quickly evolved into a large-scale public movement after the public vented its anger over the NEET UG 2026 paper leak and other exam-related irregularities. Dipke returned to India on June 6, 2026 to lead agitations near Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, and the campaign gained more momentum with increasing support from students, civil society groups and public figures. 

Wangchuk’s hunger strike propels campaign

The movement received a major boost when educator and activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the Jantar Mantar-located agitation on June 28, announcing an indefinite hunger strike.

His 26-day fast ended earlier this week after the Union Government provided written assurances that no legal action would be taken against peaceful protestors, Parliament would deliberate on exam reforms and accountability, and the demand for financial aid for the kin of students who allegedly died by suicide following NEET UG 2026 paper leak.