The viral Cockroach Janta Party has run into fresh controversy after its website went offline on Saturday, with founder Abhijeet Dipke accusing the BJP-led central government of censorship and “dictatorial behaviour”.
Posting on X, Dipke claimed that nearly 10 lakh people had registered as members on the website before it was taken down. He also alleged that around six lakh supporters had signed an online petition demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Why is the government so scared of cockroaches?” Dipke wrote, while alleging that authorities were attempting to suppress dissent online.
The development comes days after the satirical political movement exploded across social media, attracting millions of followers with memes, AI-generated visuals and sharp political commentary aimed at unemployment, governance and youth frustration.
Dipke also claimed that several social media accounts linked to the movement had either been hacked or withheld in India. According to reports, the party’s Instagram accounts became inaccessible, while its X account was allegedly blocked during a BBC interview.
The Cockroach Janta Party emerged after controversial remarks attributed to Chief Justice Surya Kant comparing unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing. Though the judge later clarified that his comments were misinterpreted, the phrase quickly sparked online outrage and satire.
What began as an internet parody has since evolved into a broader digital protest movement, especially among Gen Z users frustrated over jobs, inequality and politics.