Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"Congress thought of the student agitation much earlier. Chhatron Ki Goonj was our enterprise, and while it gathered momentum later, Cockroach Janta Party went on their own. They didn't come through us. Why was it? It wasn't ideology or anything like that. It was very simply they didn't see a path in," said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, as he reflected upon the recent movement of the Cockroach Janta Party and other youth protests that are currently underway in the country.
For the first time since it came to power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was brought to its knees by a mass movement led by leaders of the CJP, ensuring the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. However, the question remains – why did lakhs of youth, who showed trust in the CJP, an outfit formed just months ago, and not traditional Opposition parties?
From unemployment and exam irregularities to questions around representation and accountability, issues affecting young Indians have increasingly become a political flashpoint.
"We need to somehow be able to dismantle our hierarchies in a way that opens up the space," Tharoor believes.
In this interview by senior journalist Javed Ansari, Tharoor speaks about the BJP’s record, the challenges before the Opposition, and why newer political groups and movements are managing to connect with young voters in ways traditional parties have struggled to.
From exposing misinformation to delivering impactful human rights reporting, our newsroom has relentlessly pursued stories that drive change. We remain committed to asking the tough questions — and we'd love for you to be a part of our journey.
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Video: The Quint
"Congress thought of the student agitation much earlier. Chhatron Ki Goonj was our enterprise, and while it gathered momentum later, Cockroach Janta Party went on their own. They didn't come through us. Why was it? It wasn't ideology or anything like that. It was very simply they didn't see a path in," said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, as he reflected upon the recent movement of the Cockroach Janta Party and other youth protests that are currently underway in the country.
For the first time since it came to power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was brought to its knees by a mass movement led by leaders of the CJP, ensuring the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. However, the question remains – why did lakhs of youth, who showed trust in the CJP, an outfit formed just months ago, and not traditional Opposition parties?
From unemployment and exam irregularities to questions around representation and accountability, issues affecting young Indians have increasingly become a political flashpoint.
"We need to somehow be able to dismantle our hierarchies in a way that opens up the space," Tharoor believes.
In this interview by senior journalist Javed Ansari, Tharoor speaks about the BJP’s record, the challenges before the Opposition, and why newer political groups and movements are managing to connect with young voters in ways traditional parties have struggled to.
From exposing misinformation to delivering impactful human rights reporting, our newsroom has relentlessly pursued stories that drive change. We remain committed to asking the tough questions — and we'd love for you to be a part of our journey.
Become The Quint’s member and make your support count: bit.ly/4j8x6uy
For more videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel: bit.ly/4gIyCln
---------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our website for more stories: thequint.com
Check out our Special Projects: thequint.com/special-projects
Subscribe to The Quint’s exclusive newsletters: thequint.substack.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
Follow elsewhere:
» Join us on WhatsApp: whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va5ysvjAe5VqBKRhgv2G
» Instagram: instagram.com/thequint
» LinkedIn: in.linkedin.com/company/thequint
» Twitter: https://x.com/TheQuint
» Facebook: facebook.com/quintillion
---------------------------------------------------------------
Video: The Quint
