India's 'Cockroach Janta Party' March on Parliament Dispersed by Police

On July 20, 2026, tens of thousands of protesters marched on India's parliament in New Delhi, defying a police ban, in what was described as one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in India in recent years. The march coincided with the opening day of parliament's monsoon session.

Delhi police had denied permission for the march, citing the commencement of parliament's monsoon session and security requirements. The internet was shut down in parts of central New Delhi during the protest.

Police used batons, caning, and teargas against protesters who attempted to move toward the parliament building. Television footage showed police caning protesters in a heavily barricaded area.

The protest was organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), founded in May 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old Indian national who recently graduated from a US university. The party's name derives from remarks made by India's Supreme Court chief justice, who compared unemployed youth to 'cockroaches' or 'parasites' during a hearing.

The CJP is not a real political party but began as satire, initially drawing support largely online before expanding to offline protests. Within days to weeks of its formation, the CJP amassed more than 22 million Instagram followers, reportedly overtaking the BJP's follower count.

The CJP's central demand is the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over repeated exam paper leaks and irregularities.

The march was called by activist Sonam Wangchuk from his hospital bed after police forcibly moved him to a government hospital on July 18 against his will. Wangchuk, who had been on hunger strike, described the planned march as 'India's second freedom movement' and issued a handwritten note saying he would continue his hunger strike in response to police treatment of protesters.

Center-left outlets reported that the protest was largely made up of students and young people from Generation Z, with parents of children affected by exam leaks also present in significant numbers.

Center and center-right outlets reported that police orders prohibited assemblies of five or more persons in the New Delhi district, with the Jantar Mantar observatory designated as the only permitted assembly site. Roads across central Delhi were barricaded and protesters were kettled into this designated protest site approximately one mile from parliament, according to center-left outlets.

A Delhi court ruled that authorities were within their rights to move Wangchuk to a government hospital because he had not admitted himself despite deteriorating health. Judge Mini Pushkarna found that doctors had administered only oral fluids and supplements with Wangchuk's consent. Safdarjung Hospital reported that Wangchuk's vital parameters were stable but his blood parameters remained 'marginally altered' and he required round-the-clock monitoring.

Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo sought permission to transfer him to the privately run Medanta Hospital, but the government opposed the request, according to center and center-right sources.

Center-left outlets reported that The Guardian alone noted that the Modi government attempted to block the CJP's social media accounts on national security grounds but was unsuccessful.

Delhi police and protesters offered contradictory accounts of the use of force during the march. Police denied using any force against protesters and characterized the handling of the protest as professional. Protest leaders and demonstrators disputed this characterization, describing the police response as violent and brutal.

Wangchuk's forcible removal to hospital was also contested. Delhi police stated the removal was necessary to protect his deteriorating health. Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo characterized it as 'illegal detention' rather than medical care, and Wangchuk himself said he was being 'held hostage.'