New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday held its second protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, with founder Abhijeet Dipke urging supporters to carry a “thali” (plate) and a “chammach” (spoon), invoking memories of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationwide “thali bajao” call during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ahead of the demonstration, Dipke released a video message asking participants, whom the movement refers to as “cockroaches,” to bring the utensils to the protest. “All the cockroaches joining tomorrow’s protest at Jantar Mantar should carry a thali and a chamach with you. You know the rest of the story,” he said.
The symbolism was widely interpreted as a reference to March 22, 2020, when Prime Minister Modi called upon citizens to step onto their balconies and bang plates an
d spoons as a gesture of gratitude towards healthcare workers, police personnel and other frontline staff during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protest was organised by the youth-led CJP, which has emerged as a prominent online movement campaigning against examination irregularities, paper leaks, unemployment and delays in government recruitment. The group has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over controversies surrounding examinations.
According to reports, the CJP secured permission from Delhi Police to hold the June 20 protest at Jantar Mantar.
The protest was billed by the organisation as a renewed push for action on examination-related grievances and recruitment delays. Dipke and other organisers have previously warned of larger agitations if their demands are not addressed.
Founded by Dipke earlier this year, the CJP began as a satirical online movement but rapidly gained traction among young Indians frustrated by issues such as unemployment and alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The organisation has since translated its online popularity into street protests and outreach campaigns across several states.
By incorporating the thali-and-spoon imagery associated with the pandemic era, the group sought to add a layer of political symbolism to its protest, turning a familiar national gesture into a tool for expressing dissent and drawing attention to its demands.