'Cockroaches don’t die!' Viral CJP launches new profile after original handle withheld by X
New Delhi: The founder of India’s viral satirical movement, the "Cockroach Janata Party" (CJP), has launched a new account, "Cockroach is Back,"
@Cockroachisback on X after the platform withheld the group's original handle inside the country following a government legal order.
The new account @Cockroachisback features a profile bio stating: "Cockroaches don’t die!"
The rapid digital pivot by the group’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, came hours after X complied with an Indian government directive to block the movement's original handle (@CJP_2029) within domestic borders. The enforcement followed a massive online surge where the meme-driven group amassed around 14 million Instagram followers, surpassing the official handle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and rivalling the primary opposition, the Indian National Congress (INC).
"As expected, Cockroach Janta Party's account has been withheld in India," Dipke posted from his personal profile before deploying the replacement handle.
The CJP was formed on May 16 as an ironic counter-response to remarks by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a Supreme Court hearing. While addressing individuals using fake degrees, the Chief Justice used the term "cockroaches" to describe certain unemployed youths engaging in digital activism.
Though the Chief Justice later clarified that his statements were misquoted and targeted specifically at fraudulent professionals, frustrated young Indians quickly weaponised the term. Self-styled as the “Voice of the Lazy & Unemployed,” the satirical platform has resonated deeply with an online demographic facing high youth unemployment and systemic competitive exam leaks.
The movement has released an edgy, five-point manifesto demanding increased transparency and an end to post-retirement political rewards for judges. It has already claimed more than 350,000 official online member registrations.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and X have not commented on the specific legal grounds of the restriction order.