Delhi Youth Dress Up as Cockroaches to Clean the Yamuna Following Viral Debate Around CJI Remarks

Members of the Delhi-based environmental group Earth Warriors recently carried out a cleanup drive along the Yamuna riverbank dressed in cockroach costumes, drawing attention to pollution in the river through a symbolic public action.

The cleanup took place amid widespread discussion around remarks reportedly made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a recent Supreme Court hearing, where the word “cockroaches” was allegedly used while referring to certain unemployed individuals involved in social media activism, RTI filing and public criticism.

In the days that followed, the remarks led to multiple responses from young Indians online and offline. While social media users engaged through satire, memes and the viral “Cockroach Janta Party” discourse, Earth Warriors organised an on-ground river cleanup initiative using similar imagery.

The two were separate and unaffiliated responses that emerged within the same broader public conversation.

Videos from the cleanup show volunteers collecting plastic waste, sorting garbage and removing litter from stretches of the Yamuna riverbank while wearing antenna headbands and insect costumes. The visuals circulated widely across social media platforms and brought renewed attention to the condition of the river.

Who are Earth Warriors?

Earth Warriors is a Delhi-based environmental group that has been conducting regular cleanup drives along the Yamuna for several years.

According to reports, the group has been active since 2019 and continues to organise cleanup efforts regularly. 

Previous reports on the group’s work have documented volunteers removing plastic waste, discarded clothing, puja materials and other litter from the riverbank during cleanup drives. 

Why the Yamuna?

Delhi’s stretch of the Yamuna continues to face pollution challenges linked to untreated sewage, industrial discharge and solid waste dumping.

According to a July 2025 statement by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Delhi generates an estimated 3,596 million litres of sewage every day. Of this, approximately 641 million litres remains untreated and enters the river or drainage network.

The Centre for Science and Environment has also noted that the 22-km stretch of the Yamuna flowing through Delhi contributes more than 80% of the river’s total pollution load despite accounting for a small portion of the basin.

The recent cleanup initiative by Earth Warriors added to ongoing citizen-led efforts that attempt to draw public attention to the river’s condition through volunteer action and awareness campaigns.

Using symbolism during the cleanup

The cleanup drew online attention because of the volunteers’ use of cockroach costumes and slogans such as “Main cockroach hu (I am a cockroach)”.

Videos from the drive showed volunteers carrying garbage bags and cleaning littered sections of the riverbank while interacting with passersby and social media creators documenting the activity.

The initiative became part of a wider moment in which young Indians responded in different ways to the public debate surrounding the CJI’s alleged remarks — online through commentary and satire, and offline through symbolic civic action.

Editorial Note: This story has been updated on 22 May, 2026, to further clarify that the youth-led Yamuna cleanup initiative by Earth Warriors and the online ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ discourse are separate, unaffiliated responses that emerged within the broader public conversation following the alleged viral “cockroach” remarks.

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