Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has voiced his support for the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), criticizing the decision to withhold its X account as “disastrous and deeply unwise.” Tharoor remarked, “I’m incredibly intrigued by the rise of #CockroachJantaParty, which has already reached more than 15 million (now over 19 million) followers on Instagram in just five days.”
The CJP’s X account, which boasted over 200,000 followers, was suspended in India following a legal demand. Founder Abhijeet Dipke confirmed the suspension, stating: “As expected Cockroach Janta Party’s account has been withheld in India.” In response, the group quickly launched a new account titled “Cockroach is Back,” asserting, “You thought you could get rid of us? Lol.”
Tharoor expressed an understanding of the frustrations experienced by youth, highlighting the importance of allowing space for expression. He stated, “This is precisely why the account being withheld on X is disastrous and deeply unwise — there should be an outlet for the youth to express their feelings, so let CJP’s account function instead of shutting it down!” He emphasized, “Democracies need outlets for dissent, humour, satire and even frustration.”
While Tharoor noted uncertainty over the movement’s future, he expressed hope that its youthful proponents would eventually channel their energy into mainstream politics. He urged the Opposition to recognize the viral trend and work to engage with the youth.
Similarly, Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda criticized the account’s suspension, labeling it a “cockroach ban,” and referred to it as “completely inappropriate in a democracy.” He attributed the rise of the CJP to deep-seated anger among youth towards a “flawed system” perpetuated by the BJP.
The CJP emerged earlier this month after comments made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who reportedly likened some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing. Following backlash, the CJI clarified that his remarks were directed at individuals using “fake and bogus degrees,” asserting that claims of insulting India’s youth were “totally baseless.”
Despite the controversy, the Cockroach Janta Party successfully transformed the incident into an online movement, amassing over 19.5 million followers on Instagram. The satirical group positions itself as “a political party for the lazy, the unemployed, and the chronically correct,” claiming its headquarters “wherever the wifi works.” Their manifesto includes demands such as a ban on post-retirement Rajya Sabha seats for chief justices, a 20-year election ban for defecting MLAs and MPs, and 50 percent reservation for women in Parliament.
