Viral “Cockroach” meme campaign triggers censorship row in India

A meme-driven online movement has triggered a political controversy in India after the X account of the satirical collective Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was withheld, prompting accusations from Opposition parties of censorship and counterclaims from BJP-linked voices questioning the group’s origins and intent.

As Caliber.Az reports, citing Money Control, the blocking of the account followed directions reportedly issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under Section 69A of the IT Act, based on Intelligence Bureau inputs citing “national security concerns” and issues related to the “sovereignty and integrity of India.” X displayed a notice stating the handle had been “withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”

The meme-led movement emerged after remarks made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant during a Supreme Court hearing on May 15, when he referred to unemployed youth and “social media attackers” as “cockroaches.” A day later, the CJI clarified that he had been “misquoted” and said his comments were directed only at individuals entering professions using “fake or bogus degrees.”

Despite the clarification, the online campaign rapidly expanded, with the collective claiming over 100,000 members within days and later surpassing 19 million Instagram followers. The platform, launched by Boston University student and former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) political strategist Abhijeet Dipke, describes itself as the “Voice of the Lazy & Unemployed.”

The move to withhold the account drew sharp reactions from Opposition leaders, many of whom accused the government of suppressing dissent.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra wrote, “Fascism Not Democracy. Our government is so scared of the youth of this country that it can’t even bear a virtual online movement.” In another post, she added, “Let’s all cockroaches unite against this latest show of tyranny,” saying that “when humour & satire are met with undue force, a newer more powerful force is often born.”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted “BJP versus CJP” and later wrote, “Zulmi hukmaraon se keh do aaj, bandishon mein kab bandha hai inquilab.”

AAP leader Manish Sisodia released a video stating, “I too am a cockroach,” framing the controversy as a “war between the crocodile and the cockroaches.”

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the phenomenon “intriguing” and described the blocking of the account as “disastrous and deeply unwise.” He said democracies require “outlets for dissent, humour, satire and even frustration,” calling the trend “an opportunity that the Opposition must seize.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the rise of CJP reflected “youth disillusionment” with traditional Opposition parties, while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said the trend pointed to a need for a “revolution” led by Gen-Z. RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav also described the movement as a symbol of youth anger.

Kirti Azad shared supportive posts and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, writing, “Actually, our PM is a very good actor and for acting, you don’t need any degree.”

The Indian Youth Congress joined the online campaign by posting a video related to the NEET controversy featuring the song “haan mai hun cockroach.”

On the BJP side, leader Tejinder Bagga attempted to rebrand the campaign as the “Pakistan Janata Party,” alleging that a large share of its followers were from Pakistan. BJP-linked commentators similarly described the movement as foreign-influenced and anti-national, although no senior BJP leader has issued a formal statement on the matter so far. 

By Vafa Guliyeva