A political satire movement started by Boston-based Indian student Abhijeet Dipke is now at the center of a growing controversy after he accused the Indian government of targeting the group’s digital presence, including its website and social media accounts.
Dipke, a student at Boston University, claimed that the official website of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical online movement that quickly gained traction among young Indians, was taken down amid rising support for the campaign. The movement, which uses the symbol of a cockroach as a metaphor for resilience and resistance, has become increasingly visible on social media over the past week.
In a post shared on X, Dipke alleged that the government shut down the website after lakhs of users joined the platform and signed petitions connected to education and youth issues in India.
“The government has taken down our iconic website – [http://cockroachjantaparty.org](http://cockroachjantaparty.org).
10 Lakh cockroaches had signed up on our website has members.
6 Lakh cockroaches had signed a petition to demand the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Why is the government so scared of cockroaches? But this dictatorial behaviour is opening the eyes of India’s youth. Our only crime is we were demanding a better future for ourselves.
But you can’t get rid of us that easily. We’re working on a new home right now. Cockroaches never die. 🪳”
READ: Abhijeet Dipke: The man behind India’s Cockroach Janta Party is a Boston University student (
The campaign has especially resonated with students and younger social media users, including members of the Indian diaspora in the United States. Dipke’s posts have gained attention online as supporters describe the movement as a form of digital protest against what they see as increasing pressure on dissenting voices in India.
Dipke later claimed that the alleged crackdown expanded beyond the website. In another post on X, he said social media accounts linked to him and the Cockroach Janta Party had either been hacked, withheld, or removed.
“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 it to the next level. Will share more soon!
Cockroaches never die! 🪳”
According to Dipke, the official Instagram page of the Cockroach Janta Party had attracted more than 22 million followers within just a week of launching, making it one of the fastest-growing political satire pages tied to student activism online. He also alleged that his personal Instagram account was compromised.
In another X post, he wrote: “Crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party. Instagram page hacked. My personal Instagram hacked. Twitter account withheld. Back up account also taken down.”
The allegations have sparked wider conversations online about censorship, digital activism, and the growing influence of youth-led movements on social media platforms. Supporters of Dipke have amplified hashtags linked to the Cockroach Janta Party, while critics have questioned some of the claims surrounding the movement’s rapid online growth.
Dipke also alleged that the situation has become personal. In a separate post dated May 22, he claimed that his family in India had received threats.
“Still receiving threats against my family in India,” he wrote on X.
So far, Indian authorities have not publicly commented on Dipke’s allegations regarding the website takedown, hacked accounts, or the reported threats. Meta and X have also not issued statements on the claims involving the alleged removal or withholding of accounts connected to the movement.
The controversy comes at a time when debates around free speech, student activism, and digital censorship in India are increasingly drawing international attention, particularly among Indian students studying in the United States and other countries.