INDIA’S ‘COCKROACH PARTY’ FOUNDER HEADS TO DELHI AMID FEARS OF ARREST. WHAT’S THE BUZZ ABOUT?

The founder of India’s viral satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” is flying back from the United States to lead a protest in New Delhi, despite publicly acknowledging that he could face arrest when he lands.

Abhijeet Dipke, the 30-year-old political strategist behind the online movement that has amassed millions of followers, said he was prepared for possible detention as he returned to seek permission for a demonstration demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“I am pretty confident there may be consequences upon my return, (but) I am also sure about coming back,” the Boston University graduate told Times of India ahead of his departure.

Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party.

The parody “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has won millions of online followers on social media since its launch last month.

CJP was set up after India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly called young people who criticised the government “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a hearing. Kant later said his comments were taken out of context.

Dipke, a political communications strategist who formerly worked with the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), created the fictional party online on May 16.

Its popularity has soared, using the slogan “a political front for the youth, by the youth, for the youth”.

‘Overwhelming response’

Dipke has called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced criticism over alleged irregularities in several key examinations.

“On my way to India… Leaving my fate in the hands of the Constitution,” Dipke wrote in a post on X on Friday.

Sonam Wangchuk, 59, a prominent activist from India’s Ladakh region, who spent six months in detention after being arrested in September following deadly protests demanding autonomy for the Himalayan territory, has said he will join the protests.

THE POWER OF FLOWERS
Love, peace & Flower Power will be put to test on 6th June…#CockroachJantaParty #CJP #SonamWangchuk pic.twitter.com/feyfBct75a

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) June 4, 2026

India tightly regulates social media content, and some of the CJP’s social media handles have been blocked.

But its Instagram handle, still online in India, has more than 22 million followers, more than double the BJP’s nine million followers on the same site, as well as the main opposition Congress Party’s 13 million followers.

Dipke earlier called on followers not to gather at the airport upon his arrival.

“The overwhelming response from those who want the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan to our call to join us at Delhi Airport was beyond our imagination,” he said, in a video message on X, posted on Thursday.

“It is not feasible for so many people to assemble at the airport as it would cause inconvenience to the public and the security forces,” he said.

Important Update:

The overwhelming response from those who want the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan to our call to join us at Delhi Airport was beyond our imagination.

It is not feasible for so many people to assemble at the airport as it would cause inconvenience to the… pic.twitter.com/VOkd0Fbjmv

— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) June 4, 2026

He said he would go immediately to the police “to seek permission directly for our peaceful protest” on Saturday.

“We are law-abiding citizens and have to act responsibly,” he added. “So, please, be mindful that nobody should create any kind of disturbance.”

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https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

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Peaceful protest

In a press conference on Friday, the party representatives emphasised that all protests and processions on June 6 will be “entirely peaceful, democratic, and within the framework of the law.”

“We also request Delhi Police to take cognisance of hate speech and violent videos circulating online and take appropriate measures,” the CJP emphasised.

Earlier, at its first press conference at New Delhi’s Constitution Club on Wednesday, CJP sought to present itself as more than an online campaign.

Party spokespersons said the movement was open to dialogue with both the government and the opposition, while reiterating its demand for the education minister’s resignation over examination-related controversies.

The group also described the recent transfer of top Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officials as an “eyewash” and appealed to young people across the country to join the planned protest.