00:00A new party has been launched in India. It's called the Cockroach Chanta Party.
00:06You heard that right.
00:08Eligibility criteria is unemployed, lazy and chronically online.
00:15Ability to rant professionally.
00:19The party's slogan is secular, socialist, democratic and lazy.
00:25And it calls itself the voice of the youth.
00:28The website is on your screen right now, cockroachjanthaparty.org, launched the same day.
00:34The growth was immediate and striking.
00:38Within three days of launch, the party has attracted about 80,000 signups.
00:43On Instagram alone, the party has crossed 5,51,000 followers within 48 hours.
00:49And if you thought that this lazy and unemployed movement was just online, it has gone offline.
00:56A group of youth volunteers carried out cleanliness drives along the Yamuna River,
01:02dressed like cockroaches, carrying placards as a peaceful response to the CGI's remark.
01:08What was the CGI's remark? Let's play that up for you as well.
01:13Now, the volunteers said that they chose their own insult and they could not take in the statement that was
01:25made by CGI's Suriqanth.
01:27They said that they were pained by his comments.
01:31Now, what were his comments?
01:33Remember, on the 15th of May, Chief Justice of India, Suriqanth, likened unemployed youth to cockroaches during a Supreme Court
01:40hearing.
01:40The remarks went viral.
01:43And the very next day, a digital content creator, Abhijit, founded the Cockroach Janata Party.
01:53Now, who is Abhijit?
01:56Abhijit is a 30-year-old Indian student currently studying public relations in Boston University.
02:02He's not in India.
02:05He has a degree, does not have a job, and he calls himself the OG Cockroach.
02:12So, he thought, let's speak with him.
02:14Let me welcome now Abhijit on the program.
02:17Hi, Abhijit.
02:18How's it going?
02:19I want to understand from you, how did this entire, you know, Cockroach Party idea even come to your mind?
02:29Why did you decide to launch a party?
02:31Not a campaign, not a slogan, but a party.
02:35I think it was more triggering coming in from the Chief Justice of India, who is the custodian of constitution
02:41which grants us the freedom of expression.
02:44Someone who is there to safeguard our freedom of expression is comparing us with cockroaches and parasites for just putting
02:52up our opinion.
02:53That was more hurting part, I would say.
02:57Had this comment made by anybody else from the ruling party, which they normally do, it wouldn't have caused such
03:05stir.
03:05But it came from someone who is supposed to protect our freedom of expression.
03:11All right.
03:11So, would it be fair to say that you are the OG Cockroach?
03:15You are the one, as you called yourself, that you are the one that the Chief Justice was really talking
03:21about.
03:22Why did it become so personal?
03:23And I am trying to understand, ever since then, you have got support of other, some opposition MPs as well,
03:30some TMC MPs who have jumped in.
03:32How did you take that support?
03:37Everybody who will speak about the youth, about the Gen Z and their concerns are welcome in this party.
03:44Because for too long, I believe the Indian politics has ignored the Indian youth.
03:49If you look at the political discourse of India, what it has been for the last 10-12 years, it
03:55has been around Hindu, Muslim and stuff like that.
03:58How is it actually serving the youth?
04:00What is it in for them?
04:01There is absolutely nothing.
04:04So, why would the Indian youth look up to these people?
04:08But currently, the poster boy for Indian youth is Vijay, right?
04:12He is the one who has garnered most Gen Z and Millennium votes here.
04:16Can Vijay join the Cockroach Party?
04:21I think Vijay has already achieved his own success.
04:27But what about Arvind Kejriwal?
04:29Can he join the Cockroach Party?
04:32He can extend his support if he wants to.
04:34But I don't think that anybody among the Gen Zs would like any political party to be involved in this.
04:41I want to be really clear about it.
04:44You are clear about that, but there is a reason I brought up Arvind Kejriwal, because I know that you
04:48were associated with the Ahmadine Party in the past.
04:51Back in the day, you have managed Ahmadine Party's social media messaging.
04:57You handled their positioning online as well.
05:01What happened?
05:02You are not working with them anymore?
05:03They could not live up to your expectations?
05:06Would that be fair to say?
05:10No, it's not that, Sonal.
05:11Actually, I worked there from 2020 to 2023, I think.
05:16And it was for a brief period of time, I was actually very inspired by the health and education model
05:22that they worked on.
05:23I mean, it was also very refreshing to know that in Indian politics, then health and education was nowhere.
05:30And he delivered on that.
05:31So I was inspired by that.
05:32And I just wanted to contribute in that.
05:35And after that, I thought maybe I need to move forward with my life.
05:39So I took a year off, I started preparing for my applications.
05:44And then in 2024, I decided, okay, it's time to move ahead in life, focus on personal life, financial stability,
05:50and stuff like that.
05:52So I applied to some universities, I got into Boston University, and I have been here since then.
05:58Okay.
05:59You know, in the past one year, a lot of Gen Z movements have happened in and around India's neighborhood.
06:04We've had Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal.
06:06And a lot of memes were then floated around, saying, India ka Gen Z kahan hai.
06:11Are you trying to say, India ka Gen Z yahan hai?
06:16I think, India ka Gen Z hamisha yahi tha.
06:20Because the kind of support you see that we have got in just three days, Sonal.
06:24Today we have like three lakh registered members.
06:28The figure has gone to three lakh in just three, three, four days.
06:32On Instagram, we got 3.3 million people.
06:35That is, 30 lakh people are following us.
06:37Do you really think that this is possible through any orchestrated campaign?
06:42No, it is not.
06:45No, it is possible.
06:46But, you know, my question to you is this.
06:50Do you have a plan on what is going to happen next?
06:52Or is this just a flash in the pan moment?
06:57Because it has just been three, four days.
06:59And as I told you, nothing of this was planned.
07:02If I had to plan it, I wouldn't be doing it from the US.
07:05I would have been in India.
07:07Right?
07:07All of this happened so suddenly.
07:10But I want to underline this.
07:12This has happened because of the frustration that these young people have for many years.
07:17It has happened because of that.
07:20Like 36 crore, India has the largest young population.
07:26And majority of that young population is out of workforce.
07:30What do you expect them from them then?
07:32It will be frustrated.
07:33They are really frustrated.
07:36Okay, you know, there is a five-point agenda that I found on your website.
07:40And it's a quick one.
07:41I'm sure AI was used to make all of that.
07:42It says that the key demand includes no chief justice shall be granted a Rajya Sabha seat or a post
07:49retirement reward.
07:49It says that chief election commissioner or commissioner who deletes legitimate votes shall be arrested under UAPA.
07:56It also goes on to say that women shall receive 50%, not 33% reservation, along with 50% cabinet
08:03positions.
08:04Are you really saying this is prepping up?
08:07Is this a meme?
08:10Or are you prepping up for a party?
08:12Give me a straight answer.
08:16I think this is about what should be the ideal situation and what we should strive for.
08:20It's about that.
08:23And we are striving for India that would have all the institutions independent, be it the judiciary, be it the
08:29election commission or be it the media.
08:33The greatest threat to Indian democracy today is that all of those institutions seems to be aligned with the ruling
08:40party.
08:40And that is a very dangerous sign.
08:45So that is what we are striving for.
08:48We are striving for the neutrality and independence of all these institutions.
08:53But despite all of that, Abhijit, I have to bring to your attention that they are still winning elections.
08:59If I am to call it out, you are not naming the BJP, but this is an attack sort of
09:05or a counter narrative to this, right?
09:07But they are still winning elections.
09:09And you are saying that this is democracy.
09:12Are you saying that you will be fighting elections against them?
09:18Yeah, they are winning elections, but how?
09:22We should also discuss that then.
09:26Okay, the Chief Justice of India, ever since you came out with this, has clarified his comments.
09:32He did come out to say that it was for those who have fake degrees, etc.
09:37But you haven't withdrawn or taken even cognizance of those comments, have you?
09:44So, I find the clarification even more despicable because he said that it was aimed at the people who don't
09:51have a real degree or who have bogus degree and stuff like that.
09:58So now, we all know that majority of the India today lives in rural parts.
10:03The rural youth, even the Gen Z of the rural, works as a daily wage laborer because he doesn't have
10:10a formal degree.
10:11He doesn't have the privilege to get a formal education.
10:17So, those who don't have the privilege to earn a formal degree, don't have the right to speak up in
10:23a democracy, what is the Chief Justice of India is trying to say here?
10:26Doesn't the constitution which he sworn to protect says that every individual, irrespective of his educational qualification or his social
10:34status, has the right to speak up, has the right to freedom of expression?
10:38How can you say that nobody who, sorry, who doesn't have a formal degree is a cockroach?
10:48Like, this is so, so disheartening to hear from the Chief Justice of India.
10:54Okay, but, you know, Abhiji, the narrative on Gen Z in India is what?
10:59That Gen Z outrages, but only online.
11:01If they come out on the streets, it's only to make reels.
11:04This doesn't really translate into something, which is why I was saying that many would say this is just a,
11:10you know, like a splash in the pan sort of a moment.
11:15No, I don't. Actually, I don't.
11:17Because for the past few months, I have been observing that there is this growing trend that earlier people were
11:23frustrated, but they wouldn't like to express their dissatisfaction.
11:26But if you ever go on Instagram, now these people are speaking up.
11:31And this is just the first stage.
11:33Now they are trying to speak up.
11:35Earlier, they were not even speaking up.
11:37Now they have got to a point where they are being vocal about their frustration.
11:42And tomorrow they might even get on the streets.
11:44But let me remind you again, if they get on the streets, don't think it will be like Nepal or
11:49Bangladesh.
11:52Indian Gen Z won't do that.
11:54Like these people are really smart.
11:55I have been speaking to hundreds of them.
11:57And they are explaining me how they will, how they need to, you know, protest in a very democratic and
12:02peaceful manner.
12:02They understand how important it is to raise their voice, but within the constitutional rights.
12:10So I wouldn't compare the Indian Gen Z with the Gen Z of other nations and would try to, you
12:15know, defame them.
12:16Because these people are more smarter than the entire cabinet ministry that is sitting there today.
12:21The kind of politicians we have, the kind of ministers we have, what educational qualifications do they have?
12:30Okay, but, okay, Abhijit, you seem to be representing the voice of youth.
12:33So let me ask your question.
12:34Is there anybody, any Neta, Abhineta, any cricketer, any, any politician, anybody who represents the Indian youth today in the
12:44country?
12:48I'm not leading them.
12:49Basically, they have created this movement on their own, to be honest.
12:53I was not expecting.
12:54Oh, leaderless movements are even worse.
12:56We know how that works, right?
13:00This movement will give faces and this will give more educated faces than we have today.
13:05And that would be a really good sign for Indian politics, don't you think?
13:10All right.
13:10So you're saying even you are not a leader at the moment.
13:15Then who is leading this movement?
13:18What happens?
13:21I would like to ask you, when was the last time you ever heard from any Indian politician?
13:27Who is trying to engage with the Gen Z?
13:30You are a journalist.
13:31You have been in this field for quite so long.
13:33And I think you follow these politicians more than me.
13:38Please tell me, who is the last person or politician who actually tried to address this Gen Z population?
13:47Well, if you're asking me, like I said in the beginning, at the moment, the current flavor seems to be
13:51Vijay.
13:52He's one person who comes to mind.
13:54And Gen Z came out in big numbers to vote for him.
14:00But that's my opinion.
14:01It doesn't have to be.
14:02We won't include him in the existing political system that exists today.
14:08So even if you don't have the answer, see, that's what I'm talking about.
14:13All right, Abhijit, we'll leave it there for the moment.
14:15But thank you so much for joining us.
14:17Good luck with the Cockroach Party.
14:18You tell us that it's funded by no one.
14:20You tell us that it will invite no other political party.
14:23You also tell us that it is not at the behest or against anyone.
14:27It is simply the voice of the youth.
14:29We wait to see if this becomes an event that has been a trend and a hashtag for some time.
14:34Or is this here to stay till 2029?
14:38We'll be watching for the moment.
14:39Thanks so much for joining us.
14:43All right, that was the Cockroach Janta Party.
14:45What do you think about them?
14:46Tell us in the comments coming out on our live stream.
14:50For the moment, it's a goodbye from us.
14:52But stay tuned to India Today.
14:53Lots more coming up.
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