Pizza power: India’s ‘cockroach’ protesters fed by nationwide flood of fast food deliveries

NEW DELHI, July 23 — Supporters from across India are literally feeding “cockroach” education-reform protesters camped in the capital, sending a deluge of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and tea.

As activists gather beneath tarpaulin sheets in New Delhi, often holding all-night political debates, singing or reciting poetry, delivery drivers from online platforms weave through the barricades.

The supplies are being dispatched by supporters from as far as thousands of kilometres away who cannot join the protesters but are determined to help them.

Since police moved to crack down on tens of thousands of protesters in Delhi on Monday, the food has barely stopped arriving at the camp, tagged Jantar Mantar after a nearby astronomical observatory.

“Thank you to everyone who is not here but sending food and water,” volunteer Vuyom Chabbra, 26, told AFP.

“There is just so much of it,” he said, gesturing toward piles of food parcels at the protest site in the Indian capital.

“But please send things that are more necessary. Yes, food is necessary, but if you see fans, masks, goggles, these are also very important right now.”

The mostly young demonstrators have occupied the protest site since last month to demand the resignation of India’s education minister over exam-paper leaks.

But what began as a grievance over the exam system has swelled into a broader expression of frustration among young Indians, drawing thousands onto the streets and triggering the biggest protests seen in Delhi in around five years.

The protests are being led by the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement which was launched in May by public relations graduate Abhijeet Dipke, 30.

Takeaways

Tensions escalated on Monday after police fired tear gas and charged demonstrators with batons as they attempted to march on parliament during the opening day of the session.

Protesters responded by throwing stones, turning parts of the capital into scenes of running clashes.

Yet, at the bustling Jantar Mantar itself, the atmosphere is often festive.

Groups sit in circles debating politics through the night. Speakers take turns addressing crowds while also belting out protest songs and poems.

Near one corner of the site, volunteers distribute meals.

A food delivery rider arrives at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. — AFP pic

“You will see fast food, Indian breads and curries, desserts, and whatever else people have been sending,” said Kaanita, a 21-year-old student.

“(But) food is a very small part. The biggest issue for us remains the resignation of the education minister,” she added.

The abundance of takeaway meals has become one of the movement’s more unusual features.

Joginder Singh, a 45-year-old businessman volunteering at the camp, said supporters from Mumbai, Chennai and Punjab had been placing delivery orders directly to the protest site.

“We distribute everything, giving people whatever they want,” Singh said.

“Some want pizza, others burgers. These kids are the fast-food generation, and obviously like it over Indian breads and curries.

“When we feed them what they want, they will fight with twice the vigour,” he said with a grin.

Managing the deliveries is not always straightforward.

Police barricades, intermittent internet connection and security checks mean volunteers often struggle to locate arriving orders.

Despite the hurdles, Akhil, a delivery rider, said he had delivered at least 50 orders since Tuesday.

“Many ordered it from outside Delhi and phoned to tell us to deliver it at the protest site,” Akhil, 26, told AFP.

“The moment I finished one delivery, I received an order to deliver the next one at the same site.”

According to Akhil, around a dozen riders have collectively delivered hundreds of orders in recent days.

“Our group has easily delivered about 500 orders, enough to feed at least 10,000 people at Jantar Mantar.” — AFP