NEW DELHI (AP) — The Cockroach Janata Party, a social media movement that began as an online joke and amassed millions of followers across India, will face its biggest test yet Saturday with its founder expected to lead a demonstration in New Delhi.The protest, planned at Jantar Mantar in the Indian capital, would mark the movement’s first foray into street politics after weeks of dominating social media feeds and news headlines, attracting millions of online followers and widespread support among young Indians. It remains unclear how many people will participate. But the protest will be an early test of whether the movement can channel its online popularity into a broader grassroots support around growing frustration among young Indians over education, jobs and economic prospects.Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the online movement, is scheduled to arrive in the capital from the U.S. on Saturday to participate in the protest. Police laid steel barricades at arrivals at New Delhi’s international airport.
The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, emerged only three weeks ago to become an unlikely outlet for discontent among supporters who proudly call themselves “cockroaches.”
1 MIN READ
2 MIN READ
