NEW DELHI: A satirical political group calling itself the Cockroach Janta Party has emerged online following a controversial remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who reportedly compared unemployed youth to cockroaches. The group claims to have attracted over 40,000 members within just two days of its launch.
Founder and Membership
The party was founded by Abhijeet Dipke, a former social media worker for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). It has already inducted prominent politicians like Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad through social media exchanges. When Azad asked about qualifications for joining, the party responded humorously: "Winning the 1983 World Cup is a good enough qualification." Moitra, reposting a party post, expressed interest in joining, calling herself a "card-carrying member of the Anti-National Party." The party welcomed her as "the fighter democracy needs."
Background of the Remark
During a court hearing on May 15, the Chief Justice of India reportedly stated that some unemployed youth become journalists, RTI activists, or social media users and "start attacking everyone." He later clarified that his remarks were misquoted and not aimed at unemployed youth in general. He specifically referred to individuals entering professions with fake degrees, calling reports that demeaned youth "totally baseless."
Manifesto and Demands
The Cockroach Janta Party's manifesto, described as "secular, socialist, democratic, lazy," includes several demands:
- A ban on post-retirement Rajya Sabha seats for chief justices.
- 50% reservation for women in parliament without increasing the strength of the house.
- A 20-year election ban for defecting MLAs and MPs.
- Scrapping of rechecking fees by the Central Board of Secondary Education, calling it "blatant corruption."
- Support for students affected by the NEET exam controversy.
Future Plans
The party has announced plans to host a virtual Gen-Z convention, inviting young people to help organize it. Eligibility criteria for membership include being "unemployed, lazy, chronically online" and having the "ability to rant professionally."
Whether the Cockroach Janta Party will formally register or remain a digital rebellion is unclear, but the satirical outfit has tapped into a growing sentiment of frustration among young Indians.
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