India's Parliament Debates Anti-Exam Leak Bill

India's parliament has debated a new anti-exam leak bill, with members of the Lok Sabha incorporating contemporary youth slang into their speeches. The debate followed weeks of protests organised by a youth-led movement known as the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), which had previously led to the resignation of the education minister.

Gen Z Language Enters Parliament

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Terms like 'delulu', 'FOMO', and 'clock it', typically found in online social spaces, were used by MPs during the debate. Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde reportedly described the opposition as 'MIA' and gripped by 'FOMO', before becoming 'delulu'. Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda used a popular protest meme phrase to critique the government. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Bansuri Swaraj stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had 'clocked it' by introducing the legislation, while fellow MP Tejasvi Surya labelled the opposition 'delulu'.

Supriya Sule, an opposition leader, briefly questioned the use of Gen Z lingo but subsequently used the term 'delulu' herself. The CJP, initially an online satirical group, evolved into a significant protest movement addressing issues like unemployment and institutional failures, utilising platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram for organisation and communication.

Historical Context of Political Language

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Rahul Verma, a political scientist at the Centre for Policy Research, advised against interpreting the slang usage as a fundamental shift in Indian politics. He noted that politicians have consistently adopted language from popular culture, including cricket, advertising, and cinema, to connect with their electorate. Verma cited the phrase 'How's the josh?' from the film 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' as a previous example of popular culture entering political discourse. He suggested that the current use of internet slang reflects a similar, long-standing strategy of adapting to voter language rather than a new political paradigm.

Digital anthropologist Payal Arora highlighted the significance of internet slang entering parliament, distinguishing it from scripted phrases or clichés. She stated that while using such language signals 'cultural awareness', it does not necessarily imply 'political transformation'. Arora added that borrowing a generation's vocabulary is simpler than addressing the underlying frustrations that generate it.

Government Response and Future Demands

In the aftermath of the protests, authorities have reportedly sought the removal of certain protest-related online content and initiated legal action against some students and activists. Leaders of the CJP have labelled these actions as attempts to intimidate protesters and are demanding the withdrawal of these cases. They have warned of further street demonstrations if their demands are not met.

A protester, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed a lack of impressment with politicians adopting Gen Z slang, stating that "Speaking our language isn't going to impress us without meaningful change." The protester emphasised a desire for accountability over imitation, adding, "We didn't ask them to speak like us. We asked them to listen."