India has a new political superstar - a cockroach
The CJP is not a formal political party but an online movement built around political satire.
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Indian politics has acquired an unusual mascot: the cockroach.
"A satirical collective that takes inspiration from the insect – stubborn, reviled and considered indestructible – has attracted millions of online followers and mainstream media attention," reported BBC.
“Nothing of this was intentional,” said the CJP founder, Abhijeet Dipke.
The movement’s rise reflected mounting frustration among young Indians, he said. “It is the younger people who were actually very frustrated. They didn’t have any outlet. They were really angry at the government.”
It goes without stating that the nation may enjoy it for the moment as the newly floated online platform CJP appears to reflect the "angst" of the younger generation. We may sound 'exaggerated' ... but the reality is that the big role of Deep State cannot be underestimated.
Things might have been responsible for the trigger. But it also a fact the individual who floated the CJP is from Boston.
Abhijeet Dipke is a former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) functionary and who can apparently go along with a wide range of individuals.
Anarchism is an old AAP characteristic.
Gen Zee spin is being given but the CJP has emerged as essentially a challenge to the BJP only.
A user, Shut Up Counsel, has raised questions on CJP’s stand on Dalit issues.
“But there is an important thing that you haven’t answered so far said anything on the issue of Reservation nor voicing out your support for the Dalit Causes and Social Justice,” the tweet read.
Dipke, who has been actively posting and replying to posts and reels on social media, said,
“I am a Dalit myself. I hope that will answer all your questions.”
Although the CJP initially appeared to many users as another short-lived meme page, the campaign rapidly evolved into a wider digital movement centred on frustrations over unemployment, exam paper leaks, political accountability and concerns among younger users about growing disconnect between institutions and Gen Z.
Referring to a lawyer’s (fake) conduct on social media, Justice Surya Kant had said: “There are youngsters, like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists, and other activists, and they start attacking everyone.”
Abhijeet from far distance in Boston used it and launched a party - CJP. Of course it's a anti-BJP platform and the name and its 'ideology' are essentially parody of the BJP. The timing is important. Other related developments are also important.
All these have happened post recent round of polls in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The BJP won big time in Bengal but in Tamil Nadu - the 'Christian' film star has able to defeat both the DMK and the AIADMK.
Moreover; in Tamil Nadu, youths have understandably backed actor Vijay for a crucial political role.
Although Justice Surya Kant later issued a clarification on May 16, saying he had been “misquoted by a section of the media”. The dice has been cast and the damage has been done.
Dipke studied journalism in Pune for his undergraduate degree before moving to the United States for higher education. He later completed a master’s degree in Public Relations at Boston University.
The CJP leans heavily into self-mockery.
Its tongue-in-cheek membership criteria include being unemployed, lazy, chronically online, and capable of ranting professionally.
Its manifesto uses satire to address several contentious issues in Indian politics, including opposition allegations of voter manipulation, criticism of the relationship between corporate media and the government, and the appointment of retired judges to official posts.
Some opponents, many of them Modi supporters, have dismissed it as an online political gimmick aligned with the opposition, citing Dipke’s past association with the AAP. They also say the surge in popularity is
.... likely to fade as quickly as it emerged,
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These recent polls have proved one thing that Narendra Modi's popularity cannot be challenged electorally by the established political parties including the Congress or even powerful regionalists like Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav.
The Deep State and other 'adversaries' of Modi and India - are certainly displeased at the Bengal mandate and the manner Suvendu Adhikari as CM has started actions against Bangladeshis and a number of Trinamool leaders on the issue of corruption.
There have been protagonists in India's opposition camp who would just love to see repeat of Bangladesh or Sri Lankan variety of mass protests in India.
But this is a crazy country. The success of Anna Hazare movement is a test in case. Of course - the movement produced AAP and its much discredited leader Arvind Kejriwal; it was an experiment worth trying.
India's viral Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) gets over a million followers
ReplyDeleteIt is an American plot. - Arunima Chatterjee, Siliguri
Never to fade as quickly as it emerged .... This is the movement that has arrived it will change India and the political journey. -- N Ahmed - Delhi
ReplyDeleteIt's not harmful It was the need of the Hour
ReplyDeleteWhen the system rots There has to be someone
Govt is mum on every issue where it should have spoken - - Subir Purkayastha, Dhanbad