How far will cockroach movement go? India's youth-led protests defy Modi government

It all started as a bit of online satire by a few young people fed up by corruption. Clearly though, the Cockroach movement's no longer a laughing matter for India’s government which has shut transport and blocked rallying points in the capital to quell the momentum of youth-led mobilization that's already down the education minister over rampant school exam cheating and is now spearheading the protests against the culling of names from voter rolls, with the electoral commission chief accused of bias. 

We’ll ask about Abhijeet Dipke, the head of what calls itself the Cockroach Janta Party, the CJP which is still not a bona fide political party, left-wing student Neha Bora the under-30 face of the latest round of protests, India’s traditional opposition’s handling a movement it didn’t start, and a prime minister who's so far stayed silent. What sets India apart from Bangladesh, Nepal and elsewhere where Gen Zeers have risen up against the established order? In a nation where nearly two-thirds of the population still lives in the country, is the mobilization limited to middle class city dwellers? More broadly, what future for India’s youth?

Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Ilayda Habip, Juliette Laffont, Charles Wente.

Our guests

• Anish GAWANDE National Spokesperson, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

• Christophe Jaffrelot Research Fellow, Sciences Po Paris

• Rajat SETHI Visiting Fellow at India Foundation & Political Advisor, BJP

• Aarushi SRIVASTAVA Political violence and conflict researcher, ACLED