Coimbatore, May 24:
Youth organisations organised unusual but attention-grabbing protests in Madurai and Coimbatore on Sunday under the banner “Cockroach”, highlighting concerns over unemployment, alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, rising fuel prices and corruption.
The demonstrations, organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), drew large participation from students and young people who demanded greater employment opportunities and improved access to education.
In Madurai, protesters assembled near the Gandhi Memorial Museum before beginning a rally towards the Tamukkam Grounds. Participants carried placards featuring cockroach symbols and raised slogans against unemployment, corruption and what they described as policies affecting the future of young people. Organisers said the campaign was aimed at drawing public attention to the growing struggles faced by youths seeking jobs and quality educational opportunities.
A similar demonstration was held in Coimbatore, where members of the DYFI district unit organised a procession through the city. Participants wore cockroach masks and marched from the Corporation Boys Higher Secondary School in Sidhapudur, Gandhipuram, to the Gandhipuram bus stand. Police personnel were deployed along the route to regulate traffic and ensure security.
Organisers said the protests sought to bring the Union government’s attention to issues they described as increasingly affecting young people across the country. Key demands raised during the demonstrations included measures to address unemployment, action against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process, steps to control rising petrol and diesel prices and stronger safeguards for educational rights.
The use of the “cockroach” symbol emerged as the most striking element of the campaign. According to organisers, the imagery gained attention after remarks allegedly comparing unemployed youths to “cockroaches and parasites” sparked controversy.
They claimed that the symbol was later embraced online by many young people as an expression of frustration and resistance, reflecting how social media trends are increasingly shaping political messaging and public mobilisation.
