‘What if all cockroaches came together?’ The youth movement threatening to shake up India’s politics
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), initially an online joke, has emerged as a significant challenge to India's right-wing government, driven by disillusioned youth.
The story so far
- Jun 6
- Jun 7
How outlets cover it
3 outletsNot rated on the left–right scale. It describes Western party politics and doesn’t fit state media or outlets outside that system, so we show ownership and country instead.
Open questions and key claims
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is a viral Indian youth movement with roughly 22 million Instagram followers.
Almost 40% of India's graduates below 25 are unemployed.
Abhijeet Dipke, 30, founder of CJP, had expressed fears of arrest upon his return to India.
The chief justice of India compared India’s unemployed youth to 'parasites' and 'cockroaches'.
The CJP held its first protest in New Delhi on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
CJP's Instagram page amassed more than 22.2 million followers.
Hundreds of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gathered in New Delhi to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The Cockroach Janta Party is a satirical social media movement in India, a play on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Who and where
Related stories over time
same people and places- May 21 – May 23 earlierIndia's parody 'cockroach party' claims website has been blocked6 articles · 4 outlets
- Jun 6 – Jun 7◆ This story
- Jul 13 – Aug 4 later'I was slut-shamed' - Indian women 'cockroach' protesters doxxed and abused74 articles · 5 outlets
- Sep 25 – Oct 21 laterIndia’s ‘Cockroach’ leaders free after a week in jail57 articles · 4 outlets