Ruchika Singh, Gen Z & the new language of protest

July 20 police brutality at Amit Shah's behest turning point for protest: CJP chiefIn an exclusive interview with India Today, Abhijeet Deepke, founder and convenor of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), outlined the growth and future trajectory of his youth movement. Deepke addressed the fallout from student protests at Jantar Mantar and the subsequent resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He designated the July 20 police action at Jantar Mantar as the critical turning point that expanded the movement's national reach, while acknowledging activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike in mobilizing public support. Rejecting claims of being an Aam Aadmi Party proxy, receiving foreign funding, or operating with external political backing, Deepke asserted that the movement is entirely independent and sustained directly by citizens, academics, and doctors. Addressing systemic distrust, youth unemployment, economic anxiety, and exam paper leaks, Deepke stated that CJP will remain a political pressure group rather than contesting elections, while pledging legal defense and street action for students facing police FIRs.