India is attempting to block the social media accounts of the “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), a satirical political movement that exploded online after Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly called young government critics “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing.

The parody group was created on May 16 by an Indian student in the United States.

What is the Cockroach Janta Party and why did it go viral?

The Cockroach Janta Party is a fictional political group created to mock India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Its name deliberately echoes the BJP’s full name.

It was founded online after the chief justice’s remarks went viral, and it quickly attracted millions of followers across Instagram and X by positioning itself as a political front for India’s youth.

What did India’s chief justice say about young people?

Chief Justice Surya Kant made the remarks during a court hearing, where he reportedly described youth involved in criticism of the government as “cockroaches” and “parasites.”

He later said his comments were taken out of context, clarifying he was referring to people who use fake degrees. The remarks had already triggered a wave of social media activity before his clarification.

Who created the Cockroach Janta Party?

Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old Indian student at Boston University and political communications strategist, created the fictional party on May 16. Dipke previously worked with the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

He launched the movement under the slogan “a political front for the youth, by the youth, for the youth.”

How did Indian authorities respond to the movement?

Indian authorities moved to block the CJP’s X account, reportedly on the recommendation of the country’s internal intelligence agency. The information technology ministry did not immediately comment.

India routinely asks platforms to withhold accounts or remove content it deems “objectionable.”

After the first X account was blocked in India, a replacement account titled “Cockroach is Back” gained nearly 150,000 followers within hours.

Multiple parody “branch” handles also appeared. The pattern illustrated how quickly suppression efforts were outpaced by new accounts.

How large is the Cockroach Janta Party’s following?

The CJP’s Instagram account, still accessible in India, has nearly 20 million followers, more than double the BJP’s 9 million on the same platform and ahead of the main opposition Congress Party’s 13 million.

On X, the original account reached 218,000 followers before being blocked. The movement’s Instagram presence has made it one of the fastest-growing political accounts in India.

What are politicians saying about India’s cockroach party?

Opposition lawmaker Shashi Tharoor said the CJP’s rapid rise reflects deep frustration among India’s youth. “I think it’s a very healthy thing in a democracy, that people have different ways of being able to express their wishes,” he told the Indian Express. He described the movement as “satirical, humorous and, at the same time, deadly serious.”

Dipke, writing on Instagram, said young Indians “are far more mature, aware, and politically conscious than many give them credit for.” He added that they “understand their constitutional rights and will express their dissent through peaceful and democratic means.”

The Times of India dedicated its Friday editorial to the CJP, comparing the movement to a cockroach’s resilience. “Roaches scurry fearlessly into every nook and cranny, and are nigh impossible to dislodge, no matter how big the effort,” it wrote, adding that the CJP “can be serious competition for existing political parties.”