India youth protest leaders say they are ‘only getting started’

Around 36 days of protest by Indian students and youths have brought about an unprecedented shakeup in the ultra-nationalist BJP’s 12-year rule over the country.

On Saturday, for the first time, in the 12-year stint, the government bowed to pressure from people’s protests and a minister had to resign to satisfy their demands, encouraging the organisers to withdraw the demonstrations.

However, the group behind the protests for examination reforms, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), says their movement is “far from over.”

Over the past 36-odd days, from taking its campaign to the grassroots to pushing for education reforms, CJP leaders say the protests marked only the first chapter of a much larger mission.

They pledge to continue their fight for realising Indian youths’ aspirations, which they allege most political parties ignore, and for pushing through further educational as well as governance reforms across the country.

Calling off the nationwide agitation on Saturday after the Centre accepted one of its key demands, CJP leaders struck a common note, that Pradhan's resignation was not the destination but the beginning of a longer journey.

CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke said ending the protest did not mean the movement had ended. "This is just the beginning. The Cockroach Janata Party has a long way to go," he wrote on X.

Echoing the sentiment, CJP spokesperson Neha Bora said the movement had demonstrated the power of collective action by young people. "United youth can bring about change. This is not the end, but a new beginning," she told India Today.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the organisation would continue raising issues affecting young people while pushing for reforms in education and governance.

"The movement would continue to raise issues concerning the youth and work towards reforms in education and governance," Das told PTI.

Speaking to NDTV, Das said entering electoral politics was not the group's immediate priority.

"There are 750-800 political parties and none of them can fulfil the youth's aspirations. And we want to take this movement to the grassroots so that, be it any political party or political leader in power, they will be able to work for the youth and fulfil their demands. That is our agenda right now," he said.

While the organisation said its immediate focus remained on expanding the movement, CJP leader Ranka did not dismiss the possibility of entering politics in the future.

Asked by India Today whether the Cockroach Janta Party could eventually become a political party, Ranka replied, "The only thing I've learnt in my short career in public life and politics is never say no. Never say no."

He, however, stressed that the immediate priority remained reforming the country's education system.

"This has not ended. This is just getting started. We will not stop till the education system of this country is fixed, and that's a promise," Ranka said.