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How the Jantar Mantar protest bridged the divide between Millennials and Gen Z

28 0
02.08.2026

The student-led protest at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination became more than a demand for political accountability. It also became an unexpected meeting point for two generations that had long defined themselves by their differences.

For years, millennials criticized Gen Z as overly sensitive, unbothered and deeply rooted in their digital lives, meanwhile, Gen Z mocked millennials for making work their identity and holding onto traditional, reserved thinking. At Jantar Mantar, however, those stereotypes faded as both generations stood together behind a common cause.

From being a joke into a movement

The movement was led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth organization founded by Boston University alumnus Abhijeet Dipke.

What began as satire, after unemployed youth were allegedly called "cockroaches" by the Chief Justice of India, evolved into a nationwide campaign demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following examination irregularities, including the NEET-UG paper leak that disrupted the futures of thousands of students, and caused some of them to resign.

The protest expanded steadily after........

© The Pioneer