NEW DELHI: Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, claimed on Saturday that his Instagram account and the party's official page were hacked. This incident occurred just days after his satirical political campaign went viral and garnered massive online engagement.
Alleged Crackdown on Online Presence
Dipke stated that the hacking was part of a broader 'crackdown' on his online presence, as multiple accounts linked to him were affected. In a post on X, he wrote: "Crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party. Instagram page hacked. My personal Instagram hacked. Twitter account withheld. Back up account also taken down."
Official Statements Suspended
He further noted that the party currently lacks access to any of its social media platforms, and any posts made after the hacking should not be considered official statements from the Cockroach Janata Party. "Please note that we currently do not have access to any of our platforms. Any post made after this should not be considered an official statement from the Cockroach Janta Party," he wrote.
Background of the Campaign
Dipke, a student at Boston University and a former associate of the Aam Aadmi Party, launched the satirical digital campaign just a week ago. Since then, the platform has gained significant traction, with its Instagram account reportedly crossing 19 million followers. The 'Cockroach Janta Party' trend emerged following controversy over remarks allegedly made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a hearing on a plea for senior designation for a lawyer. According to Dipke, the idea was inspired by reports that the Chief Justice used the terms 'parasites' and 'cockroaches' while criticizing individuals entering the legal profession through fake degrees. The Chief Justice later clarified that he had been misquoted and that the remarks were directed specifically at those obtaining 'fake and bogus degrees'.
Viral Satire and Focus on Youth Issues
Despite the clarification, the Cockroach Janata Party—using a cockroach as its symbol—quickly went viral online through memes, satire, graphics, and political commentary. The platform's content primarily focuses on issues affecting young people, including unemployment, exam paper leaks, and education, presented in the form of satirical manifestos and campaign-style posts. Dipke has described the movement as the 'voice of the lazy and unemployed'.
Death Threats Reported
Earlier, Dipke claimed that he received death threats on WhatsApp shortly after the platform gained attention online. Sharing screenshots of the messages, he wrote: "Receiving death threats now." According to Dipke, the sender allegedly threatened him over the operation of the Cockroach Janta Party account and pressured him to either shut it down or join the BJP.
