A viral Indian political parody movement known as Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has reported that its website was blocked shortly after its launch.
The group, which maintains a digital following of over 20 million people, was formed as a joke following reports that India’s chief justice had likened unemployed youth to the insects, reports BBC.
While the chief justice later clarified that his comments were aimed at those with “fake and bogus degrees” and not the general youth population, the satirical movement had already gained momentum.
Digital restrictions and hacking claims
The CJP’s website is now unavailable in India and appears to be down in other regions as well. Founder Abhijeet Dipke, a student at Boston University and political strategist, asserted that the “iconic website” was taken down by Indian officials. On X, Dipke questioned the government’s fear of the group and stated they were searching for a new online “home,” remarking that “cockroaches never die”.
The group’s official X profile, followed by more than 200,000 people, is currently withheld in India due to a “legal demand”. Additionally, Dipke claimed that both his personal Instagram account and the group’s account were compromised by hackers.
Youth satire and symbolism
The CJP’s name is a direct satire of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The group describes itself as the representative for “the lazy and unemployed,” listing tongue-in-cheek requirements for membership such as being “chronically online” and “ranting professionally”.
Using AI-generated visuals and the viral hashtag #MainBhiCockroach (“I too am a cockroach”), the group has surpassed the BJP’s Instagram following, reaching 22 million followers.
Young supporters have even been seen at public clean-up drives and demonstrations dressed in cockroach costumes. According to Dipke, the popularity of the movement highlights widespread anger among India’s youth regarding unemployment and political marginalisation.
Though approximately half of India’s 1.4 billion citizens are under the age of 30, their involvement in formal politics remains limited.
