The parody political group, launched on social media over the weekend, uses the cockroach as its symbol and has gained widespread attention through memes, mock campaign messages and satirical videos targeting political institutions and government policies. By Thursday, the movement’s Instagram account had amassed more than 15 million followers, surpassing the platform following of India’s ruling party.

The movement was founded by Abhijeet Dipke, a political communications strategist and student at Boston University, who said the initiative began as an online satire project but quickly evolved into a broader expression of public frustration among younger Indians.

According to Dipke, the rapid growth of the movement reflects concerns over employment opportunities, economic pressures and dissatisfaction with political institutions. He said many young people viewed the platform as a space to express grievances through humor and digital activism.

The controversy that sparked the movement originated from remarks made by Surya Kant during a court hearing last week. Kant criticized individuals he described as attacking institutions and compared some unemployed young people and activists to cockroaches, comments that quickly circulated across social media and drew criticism from many users.

The remarks came against a backdrop of growing concerns among sections of India’s youth over unemployment and disruptions to government recruitment processes caused by examination paper leaks. Critics online interpreted the comments as dismissive of the challenges facing younger generations.

Kant later clarified that his observations were directed at individuals obtaining fraudulent academic credentials and said he had not intended to insult unemployed youth. However, the explanation did little to stem the online backlash.

The parody party subsequently adopted the cockroach as a symbol of resilience, portraying the insect as capable of surviving difficult conditions and using it as a metaphor for citizens navigating economic and social challenges.

Its social media content has focused on corruption allegations, job market difficulties, governance issues and broader political dissatisfaction, themes that have resonated with large numbers of young internet users.
While the Cockroach Janta Party has no formal political status and does not contest elections, its rapid rise highlights the growing role of digital platforms as vehicles for political expression in India, particularly among younger demographics increasingly turning to satire and online communities to voice discontent.

Time and again, emotional appeals for street protests have been presented as the only recourse—akin to a one-size-fits-all remedy.

Last week, India’s Parliament passed the Waqf Amendment Bill, a piece of legislation aimed at reforming the management of Islamic charitable endowments known as Waqf properties. This move has sparked significant unease among Muslim organizations, civil society groups, and opposition political parties in the country. Despite appeals to India’s President, Droupadi Murmu, to withhold her approval, the bill has now been enacted into law.

Prominent political figures, including Muslim parliamentarians such as Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad Muslimeen, Mohammed Jawed of the Indian National Congress, and Amanatullah Khan, a Delhi legislator and chairman of the local Waqf Board from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have filed legal challenges in India’s Supreme Court, questioning the bill’s alignment with the nation’s constitution.

In contrast, Sanjay Raut, a member of parliament from Shiv Sena (UBT)—a regional political party—has indicated his party’s decision not to oppose the legislation, suggesting a divergence of views even among the government’s critics.

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government defends the bill, asserting it is in the nation’s best interest. Key officials, including Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Minority Affairs, and Amit Shah, the Minister of Home Affairs, have repeatedly emphasized that the law does not infringe on Muslim rights. Instead, they argue it seeks to improve the efficiency of Waqf Boards—bodies responsible for overseeing these endowments. The government has dismissed opposition claims that the bill undermines constitutional protections as baseless.

Nevertheless, a coalition of Muslim organizations, individuals, and opposition parties continues to argue that the legislation threatens the sanctity of mosques and graveyards managed under Waqf. Labeling it unconstitutional, these groups are mobilizing for nationwide protests, including large-scale sit-ins and street demonstrations, to demand the law’s repeal.

The Historical Context of Waqf Management

Before jumping to support calls for protests, it’s worth exploring the historical management of Waqf properties—endowments established under Islamic law for charitable purposes—since India’s independence in 1947. This moment of controversy offers a chance to reflect on how these assets, meant to serve religious and social welfare, have been handled over decades.

A 2011 report by the Sachar Committee, a government-appointed panel studying the socio-economic conditions of Indian Muslims, alongside data from the Central Waqf Council, revealed that over 50% of Waqf land in India is either encroached upon or tangled in legal disputes—a striking indicator of systemic mismanagement across regions and political regimes.

In Telangana, a southern Indian state never governed by the BJP, approximately 75% of Waqf land is reportedly encroached upon, with the figure rising to 82% in its capital, Hyderabad. This underscores that the problem transcends any single political party or central policy. These statistics challenge the narrative that the current uproar is solely a result of the national government’s actions and prompt scrutiny of the role local Waqf Boards and regional leaders played in allowing such widespread losses to occur.

The Gap Between Rhetoric and Results

For decades, the administration of Waqf properties—intended to fund education, healthcare, and welfare initiatives—has failed to deliver on its charitable promise. Despite controlling vast assets, the benefits to India’s Muslim community remain limited. This raises pressing questions about who has truly profited from Waqf properties since India’s independence, who bears responsibility for the encroachments, mismanagement, and misuse of these lands, and how many schools, hospitals, or welfare centers have been established using Waqf resources.

Furthermore, what actions were taken against those who exploited these endowments, and in what measurable ways has Waqf contributed to the economic advancement of Muslims? Calls for accountability and reform in Waqf management should have surfaced long ago. Instead, the same organizations now rallying for protests—many of which oversaw this decline—are accused of stirring emotions for political leverage.

Critics argue these self-proclaimed “guardians” of the Muslim community have historically mismanaged Waqf resources, often prioritizing personal or political gain over communal welfare.

The Myth of Wake-Up Calls

Much has been said about “wake-up calls” to galvanize India’s Muslim community. Yet, the reality suggests that community leaders and Waqf custodians were never dormant—they were simply focused elsewhere.

Many Waqf properties have been illegally occupied, with rents kept artificially low, allowing beneficiaries to exploit them for decades without oversight or adjustment. This pattern of neglect raises doubts about the sincerity of those now decrying the new law.

The Pattern of Response to Legislation

A recurring trend emerges in how certain groups react to laws perceived to affect Muslim interests in India. When the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) were introduced—policies aimed at streamlining citizenship processes—similar fears were ignited, with claims that Muslims would be stripped of citizenship. Years after the CAA’s implementation, no widespread evidence of such disenfranchisement has emerged.

This history prompts questions about the opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill: Are objections rooted in genuine threats to religious rights, or do they reflect an automatic resistance that ultimately serves political agendas rather than community well-being?

The Human Cost of Protest Without Protection

Time and again, emotional appeals for street protests have been presented as the only recourse—akin to a one-size-fits-all remedy.

During the CAA-NRC protests, fears of mass citizenship loss fueled widespread unrest. Yet, as Minister Kiren Rijiju noted during the Waqf bill debates, no Muslims have lost citizenship under CAA. Still, the fallout from such movements lingers: young Muslims arrested during protests against CAA, NRC, and earlier laws like the Triple Talaq ban often remain in jail, lacking legal or financial support from the groups that spurred them into action.

In Muzaffarnagar, a city in northern India, 24 Muslim youths faced legal notices simply for wearing black armbands as a symbolic dissent—not even a full protest—each required to post a ₹2 lakh (approximately $2,400 USD) bond. In Ahmedabad, a western Indian city, around 40 people were detained during demonstrations.

These cases highlight the risks to ordinary citizens when protests lack strategic planning, legal backing, or institutional support.

Before heeding new calls to protest, communities deserve to know whether organizers have secured proper permissions from authorities, are prepared to provide legal aid to those arrested, have a legal team in place, will accept responsibility for the outcomes, and will support the families of detainees financially and emotionally.

The Path Forward: Reform and Accountability

The current Waqf management system demands overhaul. Transparency, accountability, and effectiveness must take precedence over political maneuvering. Rather than blanket opposition, India’s Muslim community could benefit from demanding targeted amendments to problematic clauses in the bill instead of outright rejection, proposing governance models that balance religious autonomy with accountability, establishing independent oversight to track how Waqf resources serve the community, creating forums for community input into Waqf decisions, and developing long-term plans to leverage Waqf assets for education, healthcare, and economic growth.

From Reaction to Responsible Engagement

India’s Muslim community faces a pivotal choice. The current approach lacks strategy, unified leadership, negotiation, or internal reform—just a repetitive cycle of politicization until issues reach the courts. Continuing this pattern of protest and division is an option, but so is redirecting energy toward ensuring Waqf properties fulfill their charitable mission. The community must resist further manipulation.

For decades, Waqf assets have been plundered while leaders stood by. Now, as the government pushes for accountability, some of these same figures are accused of misleading the public once more.

True leadership goes beyond rallying crowds—it requires vision, strategy, and responsibility. By advocating for reforms that bring transparency and efficiency to Waqf management, the community can ensure these resources uplift its most vulnerable members and build enduring institutions for future generations.

The challenge is not merely whether to oppose a law, but how to ensure the sacred trust of Waqf serves its intended purpose: benefiting the community it was created to support.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not reflect Milli Chronicle’s point-of-view.

Surpassing the Communist Party of China (CCP), which held the top position in previous rankings, the BJP’s membership of 180 million members is a testament to its extraordinary appeal and reach.

In a historic moment, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of India has secured the top spot in the ranking of the world’s largest political parties, outdoing China’s Communist Party, with an astounding membership of 180 million, according to the South Asia Index.

This achievement solidifies the BJP’s status as a global political powerhouse and underscores its immense popularity and influence both within India and on the international stage.

The South Asia Index, a renowned research organization, has unveiled its comprehensive ranking of the largest political parties worldwide, taking into account parameters such as membership strength, electoral performance, and overall impact.

Surpassing the Communist Party of China (CCP), which held the top position in previous rankings, the BJP’s membership of 180 million members is a testament to its extraordinary appeal and reach. The party’s ideology, rooted in nationalism, social conservatism, and economic reforms, has struck a chord with diverse sections of Indian society, leading to its unprecedented growth and widespread support.

The ranking also features other prominent political parties from India and around the world. The Indian National Congress (INC) secures the third position with 50 million members, while the Democratic Party and the Republican Party of the United States claim the fourth and fifth spots, with 47 million and 36 million members respectively. Pakistan’s PTI party ranks sixth with 25 million members, followed by India’s AIADMK and DMK parties, both with 20 million members each. Turkey’s AK party secures the ninth position with 12.3 million members, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of India rounds off the list with 11.5 million members.

India’s dominance in the top 10 ranking, with four political parties making the list, underscores the country’s vibrant democratic landscape and the active participation of its citizens in the political process. The BJP’s ascent to the number one position showcases the growing global significance of India and its ability to shape political discourse and policy agendas.

As the BJP consolidates its position as the world’s largest political party, it faces the responsibility of addressing the diverse needs and aspirations of its massive membership base. Moreover, the party has to make sure to contain the fringe elements who misrepresent its platform that potentially causes global uproar, and gives fuel to the anti-nation groups to justify their existence, and that eventually causes diplomatic costs. The party’s ability to effectively harness the potential of its members and translate their aspirations into meaningful policies will determine its future success and impact.