Simi

So the so-called Cockroach Protest flopped exactly as expected. Not even a hundred organic supporters turned up, and frankly, that outcome was predictable from day one. Online activism is easy. All you have to do is hit follow, repost a few hashtags, and convince yourself you're part of some grand revolution. Real-world mobilisation is a completely different game. Who is going to leave their studies, job, business, or daily routine, travel to Delhi in 42°C heat, and stand on the streets for a cause they don't genuinely care about? Historically, only two kinds of people show up for protests. First, professional agitators, the NGO activists, comrades, student-politics regulars, self-styled farmer leaders, political aspirants, and others whose entire relevance depends on remaining permanently aggrieved. Second, people who truly believe in a cause and are willing to bear personal costs for it, whether it is religion, reservation, language, or some issue that directly affects their lives. The Cockroach Janta online ecosystem fits into neither category. Its followers are largely urban youth, students, and working professionals who join such trends because they are fashionable at the moment. It gives them the feeling of participating in something meaningful without requiring any actual sacrifice. The reason they never show up on the streets is simple: they are not suffering in real life to the extent they claim online. Today's turnout exposed the gap between social media noise and ground reality. Viral posts, trending hashtags, and inflated follower counts create the illusion of a mass movement. The moment people are asked to step away from their screens and show up physically, the illusion collapses. Hopefully, the Cockroach Party leadership received a much-needed reality check. Online gimmicks do not automatically translate into real-world support. In fact, Delhi has seen larger organic gatherings for street dogs opposing a Supreme Court ruling than the combined strength that assembled at Jantar Mantar today.

Fixed it

Activist Sonam Wangchuk along with Members and supporters of Cockroach Janata Party, protesting at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 06, 2026. 📸: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

I’m at Jantar Mantar guys 😘