Thousands of protesters affiliated with India's Cockroach Janta Party attempted to march on parliament in New Delhi on July 20, 2026, and were met by police who had banned the demonstration, triggering violent clashes that left at least 60 protesters wounded, BBC News reported. Police said 118 of their officers were also injured.
The movement is driven largely by Gen Z participants who call themselves "cockroaches." NPR reported that the party originated as a satirical movement and that its members cite limited economic and professional opportunities for young Indians. The group's central demands are education reform and government action against corruption.
Police physically blocked the march before clashes broke out. The protest continued into July 21, 2026, the day after the crackdown. BBC News journalist Azadeh Moshiri covered the march, and BBC News noted the movement had grown from hundreds of participants to thousands ahead of the confrontation.