Name? Narendra Modi
Westphalian identity? Indian
Age? 75
Why is he in the news? On Monday, Prime Minister Modi faced some of the largest protests in years as over 100,000 people attempting to march on parliament in New Delhi were met by batons and tear gas. What began as a call for the resignation of India’s education minister after botched college entrance exams has spiraled into a greater movement for accountability.
Why do we care? In Modi’s third term as prime minister, cockroaches seem to be his biggest problem as giving into any of their demands could be seen as a sign of weakness, particularly now that he no longer commands a parliamentary majority. With many in India asking why the PM doesn’t just fire his education minister and move on, Modi is expressly aware that doing so could provide the exact entry point for the opposition party to move in. If Modi’s attempts to placate the protestors through fast-track courts continue to fail, he will face an increasingly dissatisfied population as Gen Z represents more than half of India’s population.
Why should you care? More than 14,400 students in India took their own lives in 2024 and nearly 40 percent of graduates between the ages of 15 and 25 are unemployed. While these statistics are specific to Modi’s India, the underlying issues of unemployment, underemployment, societal pressures and mental health don’t stop at the country’s borders.
Who else cares? Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah is facing protests from the same youth groups who previously helped elect him. India’s cockroaches may be looking at Nepali youth’s success in overthrowing their government for inspiration.
Any further comments? The current protests across India were started by Abhijeet Dipkes and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Founded just two months ago, the CJP has come to symbolize the frustration of India’s youth with its apathetic government after India’s chief justice compared the country’s unemployed youth with cockroaches.
