Thousands gathered in New Delhi on Saturday supporting a Gen Z movement demanding greater governmental accountability and the resignation of India’s education minister. This minister faced scrutiny due to scandals surrounding student exams.

The Cockroach Janta Party began as a satirical website created by Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University graduate. Dipke’s creation was a response to India’s chief justice, who likened unemployed Indian youth who critique the government to cockroaches. What started as a joke evolved into a platform voicing the frustrations of many Indians with the current system.

Dipke addressed the crowd upon arriving directly from a Boston flight, asking, “How long will we live in fear of this government?” At 30, he became an inadvertent hero to many, spotlighting issues like high youth unemployment, mismanaged exams, and perceived governmental overreach eroding democratic rights.

At the protest, architect Shakeel Abdul, 35, voiced support, saying, “The future of this country is its youth. If we don’t give them support, then I would not call myself a citizen of this country.” Abdul traveled from Bengaluru with a friend to participate in the rally.