NEW DELHI: A social media account that targets the concerns of India’s Gen Z has faced significant backlash, with its founder claiming that it was hacked and that his family received threats after it rapidly gained millions of followers unhappy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
The satirical account, known as the “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), attracted over 22 million followers on Instagram almost overnight. This growth highlights growing unease among young people regarding issues such as unemployment and exam question leaks.
In a message posted on X, founder Abhijeet Dipke revealed that the government had dismantled their popular website. He mentioned that their account on X had been blocked in India and that the Instagram account had been hacked, along with threats against his family.
However, sources have not independently verified the government’s involvement in these actions, and the government has not made any public statements regarding the matter. India’s home and IT ministries did not respond when asked for comments.
BJP Strengthens its Position
This surge in followers for CJP contrasts sharply with recent electoral victories for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in crucial states, reinforcing its authority after many years in power.
The Internet Freedom Foundation, an organization that advocates for digital rights, criticized the possible blocking of the X account, calling it an unjust attempt to suppress free speech. In response to the rising popularity of the CJP, federal minister Kiren Rijiju, a senior leader from the BJP, dismissed the account’s influence and commented that he felt sorry for those seeking social media popularity from abroad.
“Those who are heroes of the anti-India gang cannot be heroes of India,” Rijiju wrote on X, without specifically referencing CJP. He expressed confidence in Indian democracy and the youth.
In his response, Dipke shared insights about his Instagram audience, noting that over 94% are based in India. He questioned Rijiju’s comments, asking why the minister would label Indian youth as supporting another country.
Youth Anxiety
A survey from CVoter revealed that the worries expressed by the CJP resonated with many young Indians. Over 60% of respondents aged 18 to 24 reported feeling anxious about their prospects. Many participants mentioned frustrations related to joblessness and governance issues, like recent exam question leaks affecting millions of students.
The urban youth unemployment rate in India is currently around 14%, significantly higher than the national average of about 5%. Most survey participants believed that any government action to block such social media accounts would be unjustified.
Activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan suggested that if the online movement hopes to grow, it must extend beyond digital platforms to grassroots organization and mobilization.
