Where do Muslim youths fit in India's 'Cockroach' protests?

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in India have raised questions about the role and safety of Muslim youths participating in the movement. Many Muslim students have been advised not to join the protests, citing fears of harassment, false charges, hounding, and intimidation. This caution stems from a history of Muslim communities facing police targeting, surveillance, and violence following political mobilisation.

For instance, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a law excluding Muslim immigrants and refugees from obtaining citizenship, has led to communal violence in the past. The CJP movement, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, argues that education and employment should take precedence over Hindu vs. Muslim issues. However, for Muslim students in India, communal politics is intertwined with their personal experiences, affecting how they are perceived, policed, and treated in various aspects of life.

The CJP protests have attracted young people upset about exam failures, unemployment, and a lack of accountability in the system. Despite warnings, some Muslim youths, like Mohammad Junaid, still participated in the protests, facing potential police harassment afterwards. The environment in which Muslims make decisions about participation in such protests is fraught with historical and ongoing discrimination, making the choice to attend a potentially dangerous decision for many.