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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Founder of viral Indian Gen Z account alleges crackdown, threats after surge in followers

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A viral Indian social media account, "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP), gained over 22 million followers by highlighting Gen Z concerns like unemployment and exam leaks.
  • The account's founder, Abhijeet Dipke, alleges hacking, threats to his family, and website takedown after the account's surge in popularity.
  • The alleged crackdown contrasts with recent electoral wins for Prime Minister Modi's party, while digital rights groups criticize potential free speech curbs.

A rapidly viral social media account that captured the attention of India's Gen Z, "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP), has reportedly faced a crackdown, with its founder alleging hacking, threats, and the takedown of its website. The account, which gained over 22 million followers on Instagram within days, focused on issues resonating with young people, including unemployment and the leak of exam questions.

The government has taken down our iconic website.

— Abhijeet DipkeThe founder of the CJP account alleged government action against his platform.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder, stated on X that the government had taken down their website and that their X account was withheld in India. He also claimed his family received threats and that their Instagram account was compromised. Reuters could not independently verify these claims, and government ministries did not respond to requests for comment.

I pitied those who sought their social media followers from outside the country. Those who are heroes of the anti-India gang cannot be heroes of India.

— Kiren RijijuA federal minister commented on social media influence, without directly mentioning the CJP account.

The account's popularity highlights growing anxieties among young Indians. A survey by CVoter found over 60% of respondents aged 18-24 felt anxious about their future, with many citing frustrations over unemployment and governance issues like exam paper leaks. Official data indicates urban youth unemployment stands at 14%, significantly higher than the overall rate.

More than 94% of the audience is from India.

— Abhijeet DipkeDipke responded to the minister's remarks by providing audience demographics.

The alleged actions against the CJP account have drawn criticism from digital rights groups like the Internet Freedom Foundation, which called the withholding of the X account an arbitrary attempt to stifle free speech. Meanwhile, federal minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed such online phenomena, stating he pitied those seeking followers from outside India and asserting faith in Indian democracy and youth. Dipke countered by sharing demographic data showing over 94% of his audience is from India, questioning why a minister would label Indian youth as Pakistani.

Why is a union minister, Kiren Rijiju, labelling Indian youth as Pakistani?

— Abhijeet DipkeDipke questioned the minister's statement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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