NEW DELHI: A viral social media account focused on the concerns of India’s Gen Z has come under pressure, with its founder alleging hacking attempts, threats to his family and government action after the platform gained millions of followers critical of unemployment and governance issues across India.
The “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) account amassed more than 22 million followers on Instagram within days, reflecting growing discontent among Indian youth over issues including joblessness and examination paper leaks.
Cockroaches have just gotten started… pic.twitter.com/cuivildQrh
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) May 24, 2026
The party founder Abhijeet Dipke wrote on X that “the government has taken down our iconic website”, adding that the party’s X account had been withheld in India.
He also alleged that the Instagram account had been compromised and said his family had received threats.
You can hack and withhold the accounts but you cannot hack this movement.
We are not going to stop and we will keep raising our voice against this autocracy. Every attack makes cockroaches stronger.
We are working on a plan to get this movement to continue sustainably and take… pic.twitter.com/35mJ3hCBQo
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) May 23, 2026
India’s home and IT ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Digital rights group the Internet Freedom Foundation criticised the reported blocking of the X account, calling it an arbitrary attempt to restrict free speech.
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) strongly condemned the blocking of the CJP’s X handle as a blatant misuse of state power and an arbitrary and disproportionate attempt to stifle freedom of speech and expression.
IFF’s Statement on the Blocking of X Account of the Cockroach Janta Party
22 May 2026
On May 21, 2026, the X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) (@CJP_2029) was withheld in India under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. IFF strongly…
— Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) May 22, 2026
Federal minister Kiren Rijiju, a senior BJP leader, dismissed the phenomenon, saying he pitied those seeking followers from outside India.
“Those who are heroes of the anti-India gang cannot be heroes of India,” Rijiju said on X, without directly naming the CJP account.
He added: “We have complete faith in Indian democracy and Indian youth.”
Responding to the minister, Dipke posted data claiming that more than 94% of his audience was based in India.
He also questioned Rijiju’s remarks, asking on X why a Union minister was “labelling Indian youth as Pakistani”.
A survey by polling agency CVoter found that concerns highlighted by the account resonated strongly with younger Indians, with more than 60% of respondents aged 18 to 24 saying they felt anxious about their future.
Six in ten respondents linked the sentiment to unemployment and governance issues, including exam paper leaks affecting millions of candidates in a recent medical entrance test.
Official data show urban youth unemployment in India stands at 14%, significantly higher than the national average of around 5%.
Digital rights activists and commentators said any move to restrict such platforms would be unjustified, with a majority of survey respondents also opposing state action against social media accounts.
Activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the movement could expand beyond social media if it becomes organised.
“If they want to take it forward, they will have to organise and mobilise on the ground,” he said.
