Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the satirical online platform Cockroach Janta Party, has alleged a broad social media crackdown targeting the group. Dipke claims that numerous social media accounts linked to the platform, including their primary X (formerly Twitter) handle, backup accounts, and Instagram pages, have been either withheld, taken down, or outright hacked.
These allegations come shortly after reports indicated that the Indian government had instructed social media platform X to block the party's original account. Dipke stated that the actions have now expanded beyond the initial X account, impacting personal Instagram pages and other associated handles.
Accounts Inaccessible, Founder Warns Followers
Taking to X, Dipke explicitly stated, "Crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party. Instagram page hacked. My personal Instagram hacked. Twitter account withheld. Back up account also taken down." He further urged followers to disregard any future posts originating from these compromised accounts, emphasizing that his team no longer controls their social media presence.
"Please note that we currently do not have access to any of our platforms. Any post made after this should not be considered an official statement from the Cockroach Janta Party," Dipke cautioned.
Allegations of Threats and Harassment
Beyond the account issues, Dipke has also reported receiving death threats since the satirical platform gained prominence. He shared screenshots of messages on social media, which he claims contained explicit threats. One message reportedly warned him to shut down the account or face severe consequences.
In an interview, Dipke expressed significant concern for his personal safety and that of his family residing in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra. He alleged receiving videos and messages suggesting individuals had visited his family's residence to deliver warnings.
Background of the Satirical Platform
The Cockroach Janta Party emerged following controversial remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. During a hearing, Justice Kant used references to "cockroaches" while criticizing individuals allegedly entering professions through fraudulent credentials and attacking established institutions. These comments sparked widespread online debate, prompting the Chief Justice to clarify that his remarks were directed solely at those with fake qualifications and that he held Indian youth in high regard.
Government's Reported Role and Silence
According to various reports, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had previously directed X to withhold the original Cockroach Janta Party account under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, citing intelligence inputs. X's policies allow for accounts to be withheld upon valid requests from authorized government agencies.
However, the government has not issued any public statement regarding Dipke's latest allegations concerning the broader blocking of accounts or the claims of Instagram hacking. Reports suggest that authorities may be investigating actions against other related platforms as well.