Modi’s government has blocked the movement’s X account in the country, a move the CJP has challenged in a Delhi court. Senior cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju has accused the group of seeking followers from arch-enemy Pakistan and the “anti-India gang”.
CJP came about after India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant likened critics and some unemployed youth to cockroaches during a May hearing, sparking backlash among frustrated young Indians. Dipke, a political communications strategist and Boston University student, used the insult as inspiration for a parody political party.
The party has turned the cockroach into a wry badge of endurance and political articulation. Videos and memes lampooning unemployment, corruption and political dysfunction have drawn millions of views online.
CJP supporters jokingly describe themselves as unemployed, perpetually online and shut out of meaningful influence. But beneath the humour lies a broader criticism of Modi’s government, as they argue that ordinary Indians, particularly young people, have been left with fewer opportunities.