India blocks online accounts of viral satirical ‘Cockroach Party’ protest movement

The Popular Cockroach Party (CJP), a satirical protest group founded by Indian student Abhijeet Dipke, has become a viral phenomenon on social media, amassing over 22 million Instagram followers and hundreds of thousands on X. The movement lampoons the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and expresses frustration among Indian youth over high unemployment and limited political representation.

Within days of its launch, Indian authorities restricted access to the CJP website and its official X account, citing a legal request. Dipke claimed the block was an attempt to silence the group, while officials suggested many followers might be bots from abroad. The episode highlights growing discontent among young Indians and the government's sensitivity to online dissent.

The group continues to plan new online platforms and public actions, positioning itself as the “voice of lazy and unemployed youth.”