“Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke faced a wave of caste abuse on X after revealing he is Dalit during the viral online movement.“
NEW DELHI — What began as a meme page built around the word “cockroach” has turned into one of India’s biggest online political flashpoints this month, drawing millions of followers, opposition attention and a wave of caste abuse aimed at its founder.
Abhijeet Dipke, a 30 year old public relations student linked by several outlets to earlier AAP social media work, launched the Cockroach Janta Party after comments attributed to Chief Justice Surya Kant about unemployed youth triggered outrage online. The movement briefly overtook the BJP’s Instagram following during its peak growth. Within days, the page claimed more than 16 million Instagram followers while thousands registered through online sign-up forms. Dipke described the movement as a space for politically frustrated young Indians. “People are messaging us saying they’ve lost hope in both the government and the Opposition”, he told ThePrint.
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The conversation shifted sharply after users on X questioned why the movement had avoided reservation and Dalit issues. Dipke replied publicly: “I am a Dalit myself. I hope that will answer all your questions”. Screenshots shared across X showed immediate backlash. One user wrote, “So the self-proclaimed Gen Z leader is against merit”. Another posted, “Aa gaya D card”.
The casteist trolling intensified after Dipke’s disclosure. Some accounts defended him and accused upper-caste users of open hostility toward Dalits online. “The amount of hate UCs harbour for dalits is disgusting”, one account posted.
Satire becomes mobilisation
The movement has spread far beyond meme culture. Young followers began treating the campaign as a genuine anti-establishment platform focused on unemployment, corruption and political disillusionment. Dipke, originally from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra and currently studying in the US, said supporters urged him not to abandon the project. “They wrote to me, do not back off!” he said. The controversy escalated again after X withheld the party’s account in India following what reports described as a legal request. Alternate accounts appeared within hours.
Critics say the campaign lacks policy depth and survives on internet outrage. Supporters argue the speed of its growth reflects a deeper frustration among Gen Z voters who feel disconnected from mainstream parties.
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