Youth Dressed as ‘Cockroaches’ Clean Yamuna in Viral Protest

At Kalindi Kunj Ghat, youth dressed as cockroaches undertook a cleanliness drive along the river Yamuna. The typical protest was a sarcastic response to the ‘cockroach’ remark allegedly made by the CJI. The video of this comment quickly went viral on social media. He later clarified the comment.

An innovative protest on the banks of the Yamuna river in Delhi is fast going viral on social media. Youths dressed as cockroaches were seen cleaning garbage along the banks of the river. The protest caught the attention of the internet as it was not just a sanitation program but also a satirical protest.

The protest was held at Kalindi Kunj Ghat on May 17 under the leadership of a group of voluntary activists called Earth Warriors. Videos of youngsters dressed as cockroaches, antennae headbands and holding posters reading “I am a cockroach” have been seen cleaning up plastic and garbage along the banks of the Yamuna river.

The protest was in response to allegations that Chief Justice of India Suryakanth used the word ‘cockroaches’ to refer to unemployed youth, RTI activists and social media activists during a recent Supreme Court hearing. The comment sparked outrage on social media. However, the CJI later clarified that his comment was not aimed at the youth of India as a whole, but at those who are misusing fake degrees or professional platforms.

But in the meantime, ‘cockroach Janata Party’ or CJP started trending on social media. This show at Kalindi Kunj is also believed to be a part of that trend. Instead of direct confrontation, the protestors chose the path of irony and began a sanitation drive, calling themselves ‘cockroaches’.

Many online users hailed the protest as one of the most creative, peaceful demonstrations in recent times. They claimed that the youth labeled as ‘cockroaches’ were actually cleaning the Yamuna river, a task often neglected by the administration.

On social media cockroaches are now seen as a new symbol of struggle, anger and satirical protest against the system.