NEW DELHI: Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), claimed on Friday that he has received death threats on WhatsApp, just days after launching the satirical political outfit that went viral on social media. Dipke, who created the social media-driven party, shared screenshots of threatening messages sent from an unknown number and posted about the incident on X.
"Receiving death threats now," Dipke wrote in his post. According to the screenshots he shared, the sender threatened him over the operation of the CJP social media account and allegedly pressured him to either shut it down or join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The message read: "Sunn pesa milega tujhe ye account bnd krde warna bjp m aa. Warna america m bhi marwa denge tujhe." (Listen, you will get money. Shut this account down, otherwise join the BJP. Otherwise, they will even get you killed in America.)
Parents Express Fear for His Safety
Earlier, his parents Bhagwan and Anita Dipke publicly expressed fears that the viral satirical political outfit could land him in trouble or even lead to his arrest. They said they had lost sleep worrying about Abhijeet's safety and possible arrest after the rapid rise of the Cockroach Janta Party on social media, as reported by PTI.
"If we look at politics nowadays, fear is natural, no matter how many followers he has. In one of his interviews, he himself expressed fear of being arrested after returning to India. We read about such incidents in newspapers," Bhagwan Dipke said. His mother Anita Dipke appealed to her son to stay away from politics and focus on building a career instead. "We just want him to come home safely. Whether he continues in politics will be his decision, but we do not want him to pursue it. I do not know whether he will listen to us or not. I will not support him in this. I am worried about him," she said.
Meteoric Rise of Cockroach Janta Party
The Cockroach Janta Party, popularly known as CJP, has witnessed a meteoric rise online and reportedly amassed more than 19 million followers on Instagram within days of its launch. Dipke, a Boston University student who was earlier associated with the Aam Aadmi Party, launched the satirical digital outfit following a controversy surrounding remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant regarding 'parasites' and 'cockroaches' during a court hearing.
Though the Chief Justice later clarified that his remarks had been misquoted and were directed specifically at individuals entering the legal profession using 'fake and bogus degrees,' the 'cockroach' imagery quickly evolved into a viral political satire movement online. Using memes, graphics, manifestos, and satirical commentary, the Cockroach Janta Party has gained traction among young social media users by focusing on issues such as unemployment, education, examination paper leaks, and governance.
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