‘Education reform necessary’: PM Modi says won’t spare any paper mafia

Gen Z has taken the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by surprise, challenging its traditional methods of political engagement and forcing it to rethink its strategy in connecting with younger voters. The recent wave of protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a youth-led movement that began as a satirical social media campaign and evolved into a nationwide movement, has exposed the limitations of the BJP’s conventional political playbook. The protests, centered around demands for transparency in exams and accountability for alleged paper leaks, culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, marking a rare instance of a government yielding to sustained youth activism. Now, the BJP is scrambling to adapt, launching a series of social media campaigns tailored to Gen Z’s preferences, even as it faces criticism for its tone-deaf approach. The CJP movement, initiated by a Boston University graduate named Abhijeet Dipke, initially gained traction through memes and satirical posts on social media. After Chief Justice of India Surya Kant referred to some youths as “cockroaches,” the hashtag #CockroachJantaParty exploded, evolving into a powerful symbol of resistance. The protests, centered around Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, saw thousands of students and young activists taking to the streets, demanding justice and transparency. The movement quickly gained national attention, with participants using creative forms of expression, including dance and digital storytelling, to convey their message. The protests forced the government to respond, leading to the resignation of Pradhan, a move that underscored the power of youth-led movements in shaping political outcomes. In an effort to bridge the generational gap, the BJP has begun experimenting with social media strategies that mirror the language and aesthetics of Gen Z. Recent posts on the party’s X account feature pop culture references, casual dialogue, and a blend of Hindi and English internet lingo. One video opens with the iconic Friends title card, positioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a figure who supports the aspirations of young Indians. Another, shot in a gym setting, features a trainer and young individuals discussing the importance of looking forward rather than dwelling on the past. The dialogue includes phrases like “vibes,” “blue tick, no reply,” and “political podcast, pack up, back to workout,” reflecting a deliberate attempt to align with the vernacular of Gen Z. These efforts aim to position the BJP as a more relatable and modern political force, capable of engaging with the concerns of the younger generation. However, the BJP’s attempts to connect with Gen Z have not gone unnoticed. In Chhattisgarh, the party faced backlash for a controversial post that compared students who excel academically with those who “dance on Babur’s heritage.” The post, which juxtaposed a video of a Gen Z protester dancing during a NEET paper leak protest with a clip of a student receiving an award from President Droupadi Murmu, was widely criticized for its divisive tone. A student named Urwashi Palandurkar, who had originally posted the dance video during the protests, responded with a sharp and humorous rebuttal. Her video, which went viral, challenged the BJP’s narrative, arguing that academic success and artistic expression can coexist. She pointed out the absurdity of the party’s framing and emphasized that Gen Z is capable of achieving both intellectual and creative milestones. Her response received endorsements from prominent figures, including Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi, highlighting the broader resonance of her critique. Meanwhile, the opposition, particularly within the Congress party, has seized the opportunity to highlight the power of youth activism. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised Gen Z for transforming their frustrations into meaningful political action, emphasizing that the resignation of Pradhan was a testament to the strength of democratic institutions. He encouraged young people to continue questioning authority, pushing boundaries, and holding leaders accountable. His son, Ishaan Tharoor, engaged in a playful yet insightful exchange with his father, joking about the need to “ban boomers on WhatsApp” before addressing more pressing issues. The banter, though lighthearted, underscored the generational shift in political discourse, with younger members of the party adopting a more informal and digitally savvy approach to communication. The BJP’s struggle to resonate with Gen Z is not just a tactical challenge, it reflects a deeper cultural and ideological divide. While the party has mastered the use of WhatsApp and other text-based platforms, it has struggled to adapt to the visual and interactive nature of Instagram, which has become the preferred medium for young Indians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent attempt to address the youth through an Instagram video was met with mixed reactions. Though the video amassed over 300 million views, it was largely mocked for its lack of engagement, awkward framing, and overly formal tone. The video’s popularity was driven less by its content and more by its role as a meme, illustrating the gap between traditional political messaging and the expectations of a digitally native audience. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the interaction between Gen Z and political parties will likely shape the trajectory of future elections. The CJP movement has demonstrated that youth can wield significant influence when given a platform, and the BJP’s efforts to engage with this demographic will determine whether it can reclaim its relevance in a rapidly changing political environment. Meanwhile, the opposition’s embrace of Gen Z’s energy and digital fluency suggests that the younger generation may play an even more central role in shaping the nation’s political future.