A viral online joke in India, the “Cockroach Janta Party,” created as a parody of comments by a Supreme Court judge, has grown into a Gen Z–driven political movement with millions of followers. It promotes youth frustration with traditional politics but has also faced attempts by authorities to restrict its spread and reports of threats against its founder.

Inside India’s viral Cockroach Janta Party: how a satirical ‘cockroach’ movement turned youth anger over jobs, corruption and exam leaks into online protest.

The satirical "Cockroach Janta Party" calls itself a "political front of the youth, by the youth, for the youth." India's government may be trying to squash it.