The Cockroach Janta Party says it is just a joke. A fun, online movement of young people. But is it really?

The party was started on 16 May 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke. He is not a simple student. He is a political media expert who worked for three years on the Aam Aadmi Party’s social media team. He knows how to make things go viral. So when the CJP says it has “no politics,” we should think twice.

What happened on the street

On 20 June, police allowed the CJP to protest at Jantar Mantar till 5 p.m. Dipke did not leave on time. Instead, he called more people to come and join him.

On 20 July, the protesters marched towards Parliament. That march turned ugly. Barricades were broken. Stones were thrown. Delhi Police say 118 of their men were injured, including two senior officers (ACPs). They also say 15 to 20 government vehicles were damaged. Police claim that 2,873 people with criminal records were at the protest sites that week.

The CJP says the police are lying and that its own members were beaten. Some of their complaints do have proof. But when a leader takes a big crowd right up to the gates of Parliament, he must share the blame for what happens there.

Who is clapping from abroad?

Rallies supporting the CJP were held in London, Dublin, New York and San Jose. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International quickly spoke up for the protesters. Foreign newspapers wrote that Prime Minister Modi is “in trouble.”

Union ministers have raised concerns about foreign influence. To be fair, no proof of foreign money has come out so far. But one thing is clear: this movement is speaking as much to people abroad as to Indians at home. If there is foreign money, the government should show the proof. If there is none, the matter should be closed.

Back again in October

Now the CJP is protesting again. This time it wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over changes to the voter list. Police said Jantar Mantar is no longer a protest site and offered three other places. The CJP volunteers did not go there. They jumped over the gate and barricades instead.

Protest is our right under the Constitution. But protest should happen at the places the law allows. Jumping gates for a photo is not protest. It is drama.

The real question

Yes, the NEET paper leak was a big scandal. Students were right to be angry. And the Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, did resign on 25 July. But a good cause does not give anyone the right to break the law.

Mr Dipke says he wants to know where public money goes. Here is a simple question for him: who will pay for the injured policemen and the damaged government vehicles from 20 July?

Until the CJP answers that, it is not a joke party. It is street politics hiding behind a funny mask.