Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad have expressed their willingness to join the 'Cockroach Janta Party', an unofficial, satirical online political front created on the basis of the alleged 'parasitic youth' remarks made by Chief Justice Surya Kant during a court hearing last week.
In a post on X, TMC leader Kirti Azad asked, "I would like to join the cockroach janta party. What are the qualifications required?
The "party's" social media handle posted a witty response to Azad's query, saying, "Winning the 1983 World Cup is a good enough qualification. "
In the comment section, Mahua Moitra said she also wants to join the party. "I too would like to join the CJP (besides being a card carrying member of the Anti National Party)," she wrote.
The responded, "Those who rig elections and spread communal hatred are the real anti-nationals. You are the fighter democracy needs, @MahuaMoitra. Welcome to CJP!"
What is Cockroach Janta Party?
The Cockroach Janta Party, launched as a criticism of the CJI Surya Kant's 'youngsters like cockroaches' remarks, became a "movement" on social media. It pitches itself as "the voice of the lazy and unemployed", and has sparked intense discussion among netizens.
"There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment and don't have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists, some of them become other activists, and they start attacking everyone...," CJI Surya Kant was quoted by Live Law as saying on 15 May.
The Chief Justice of India later claimed that a section of the media had "misquoted" his "oral observations".
On its website, the 'Cockroach Janta Party' explains its "mission". It says the mission is to "build a party for the young people who keep getting called lazy, chronically online, and - most recently - cockroaches. That's it. That's the mission. The rest is satire."
The Cockroach Janta Party, barely over two days old, already claims 40,000 members, "more than 13K cockroaches on Instagram", and "more than 10K cockroaches on Twitter" in just 24 hours.
The CJP also released a "five-point agenda for 2029."
"With the growing support for CJP, we are fully aware that attempts will be made to dismantle us and portray us as anti-social elements. We want to make it absolutely clear that CJP firmly believes in the Constitution of India and will always work towards protecting its values," it says in social media.