Digital Storm over Cockroach

If nothing else, the storm the Cockroach Janata Party has kicked up on digital platforms has provided the interactive space for a large number of Indians who were aghast over loss of spine by the mainstream media. The opportunity has been offered by the not so kind comment by the chief deity of the ‘temple of justice of the land’, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant who on May 15 dubbed unemployed youth, media persons and RTI activists ‘parasites and cockroaches’ who assault the system.

Though the CJI later tried to clarify that he had been misquoted and he was merely criticising lawyers and media persons who acquire fake and bogus de grees and enter the noble professions, the damage had been done. Few could digest the remarks and cyber space was furious with rage. Grabbing the opportunity, Abhijeet Dipke, a Public Relations graduate from the University of Boston floated the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) on the digital platform.

While it was an attempt to use satire to describe the state of affairs in the country, it has captured the imagination of the masses in that its followers have left even the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress far behind in numbers. While the dispensation at the Centre has already been toying with the idea of muzzling the digital voices and narratives, the stunning surge in numbers have made the Modi government bring pressure to block and suspend the handle on Instagram and X (previously Twitter).

Whether such suppressive measures will succeed is a matter of guess but the spread of the narrative in the manner of a wildfire serves as an index of bubbling frustration among the youth. It is indication enough that ‘Jumlas’ of the powers-that-be are no longer trusted. The bitter truth is evident like sunlight. The expiry date of tolerance is approaching. The BJP IT cell’s attempt to discredit the emerging voices have failed miserably to reverse the tide of angst on digital platforms.

It is a spontaneous reaction by youth tired of platitudes and phobias being dished out by those at the helm. It is a protest against action such as arrest of Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk; free fall of the Indian rupee; paper leaks leading to cancellation of nearly 60 exams during the last six years; and the bid to dub the protestors as tukde-tukde gang, urban naxals, and Khan Market Gang. No wonder the CJP’s followers include worthies such as tech czar Sabir Bhatia. The traction the platform is getting shows that there is a limit to be fooled. The five unique points highlighted by the CJP’s manifesto are also a tight slap on the face of the ruling dispensation as well as the Opposition.

They include : The CJI should never be nominated or elected to the Rajya Sabha; 50% reservation for women in jobs; cancellation of licences of media controlled by industrial houses; Arrest under UAPA for attempt to delete genuine voters; 20-year ban on MLAs and MLCs switching over parties; and resignation of the education minister under whose oversight question papers leak. The manifesto demands accountability from those in power and urges the ones in opposition to work harder to gauge the popular dissatisfaction and lend them expression in legislatures. Straws in the wind are pointers to what lies in store.