Justice Suryakant of the Indian Supreme Court compared the youth to ‘cockroaches,’ sparking widespread controversy and criticism on social media. In response, Abhijeet Deepak launched a satirical political movement called the ‘Cockroach People’s Party,’ which has amassed over 3 million followers within three days. The party calls for membership from unemployed, lazy, constantly online youths who are critical of the Modi government.
On May 20, in Kathmandu, Abhijeet Deepak has barely been able to sleep in the past 72 hours. A simple joke unexpectedly turned viral, and he has been overwhelmed by a flood of social media messages ever since. The 30-year-old, who recently graduated in Public Relations from Boston University in the United States, is himself amazed. He is now leading a widespread satirical political campaign known as the ‘Cockroach People’s Party,’ which continues to grow daily with thousands joining online.
On Friday, during an open court hearing, Justice Suryakant of India’s Supreme Court stated that “parasites” were attacking the system and compared unemployed youth with no place in any profession to cockroaches. He said, “Some youths are like cockroaches, neither finding jobs nor a place in any profession. Among them are journalists, social media users, right to information activists, and others who attack everything.” Justice Suryakant clarified that his remarks referred specifically to individuals who earn fake degrees and were not directed at all Indian youth. In fact, he addressed the youth as “the pillars of a developed India.”
However, after 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, facing widespread unemployment, inflation, and acute religious divisions, Generation Z internet users have strongly criticized these comments.
As outrage on social media grew, Deepak posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, asking, “What happens if all cockroaches gather in one place?” Expanding on the joke and the underlying feelings of frustration and despair, he launched the Cockroach People’s Party’s website and social media accounts, echoing the name of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. “Those in power consider citizens to be cockroaches and parasites,” Deepak told Al Jazeera from Chicago on Tuesday. “They need to understand that cockroaches are born in rotten places. Today’s India has become just that.”
