Hundreds of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical social media movement in India, gathered in New Delhi on June 6 after weeks of drawing media attention.
The party was modeled on the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). CJP has attracted millions of online followers and received widespread support from India’s youth.
On Saturday, hundreds assembled at the protest zone near parliament in New Delhi, some wearing cockroach-shaped masks.
Last month, India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant likened young people criticizing the government to ‘cockroaches’ and ‘parasites’ during a court hearing. Kant later said his remarks were taken out of context. However, Abhijeet Dipke, a political media strategist and Boston University student, turned the insult into inspiration for founding a parody political party.
Within a week of launching its website and social media accounts, CJP’s Instagram page surged and as of Saturday had more than 22.2 million followers, with the slogan: ‘A political front of the youth, by the youth, for the youth.’
Saturday’s march aimed to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, following an exam scandal in May that quickly sparked outrage over India’s education system and limited job opportunities.
CJP supporters chanted slogans such as: ‘The cockroaches are coming, Dharmendra Pradhan is leaving!’
Organizers encouraged participants to bring the Indian flag and a book, symbolizing the right to education and equal opportunity for all. They also urged protesters to remain peaceful and avoid confrontations with police.
Ahead of the protest, Indian police beefed up security at the airport and the Jantar Mantar area, erecting steel barricades at key points.
The group’s rise mirrors a similar trend in South Asia, where youth movements born on social media have played a significant role in anti-government protests, especially in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
With the cockroach symbolizing endurance, CJP supporters wryly describe themselves as jobless and always online.
While young people in India make up more than a quarter of the population, they face limited job opportunities, leading to rising unemployment and disillusionment with traditional politics.
Some supporters of Mr. Modi’s party have dismissed CJP as merely a social media gimmick. They argue the parody party’s online success may not translate into street mobilization and its rapid rise could prove fleeting.
