Leading activist Sonam Wangchuk has stated that recent youth-led protests have significantly weakened Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Wangchuk, whose 26-day hunger strike in Delhi helped galvanize the movement, told the BBC that the atmosphere in India shifted following mass demonstrations that led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25, 2026.

The protests, known as the "cockroach" movement, were named after a controversial remark by India’s chief justice comparing some unemployed youth to "cockroaches." This movement represented one of the largest public displays of dissent against Modi’s government, which has been in power since 2014.

Wangchuk, 59, who fasted consuming only salt and water during the strike, said young people now feel empowered to "change things if they want to" and no longer feel they must "take everything lying down."

Following the protests, Modi announced fast-track courts to try those accused in exam question leaks and appointed a tech billionaire to lead reforms of the examination system. The government also pledged compensation for families of students who took their own lives after the leaks.

However, Wangchuk highlighted deeper issues, noting that graduate unemployment in India has remained around 35-40% for the past 25 years. He emphasized the need for long-term planning to ensure that sectors needing workers are not left underemployed and that unemployment is addressed.

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