Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday raised fingers in the media over the emergence of satirical outfit ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ and claimed that youth would end up following the ‘cockroach’, a veiled reference to the CJP, if positive activities and achievements were not properly reported.
Speaking as chief guest at the 140th anniversary celebrations of Malayalam daily ‘Deepika’ in Kottayam, Kerala, Radhakrishnan said “constructive journalism” is essential to guide society and “strengthen public confidence”. According to the vice president, positive developments should receive greater media attention so that young people are exposed to “the right information and role models.”
“Positive activities must be well informed. Only then will young people receive adequate information. Otherwise, they will lose interest and end up following the ‘cockroach’,” he said.
Radhakrishnan said that as India “moves forward with confidence and aspiration under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi”, the role of responsible media institutions becomes even more significant.
He said he was not against free speech, but questioned the tendency to pay disproportionate attention to issues that may not stand the test of time. Apparently referring to the buzz generated by the Janata Cockroach Festival, particularly among the youth, he wondered if anything really deserved so much attention in a single day.
“If something is genuinely good, people will still recognize its value after a week, 10 days or even a month. No one knows about them. Suddenly, they are everywhere. That cannot last,” Radhakrishnan added, while emphasizing that noble ideas and positive messages must reach every corner of the society and contribute to nation-building.
What is the Cucaracha Janta Festival?
The CJP’s satirical platform recently emerged following a controversy surrounding comments attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. who referred to a section of young people as “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing.
The CJI later clarified that his remarks, directed at people entering the legal profession through “false and fictitious degrees,” were misquoted. But that controversy gave rise to the CJP.
Founded by political communication strategist Abhijeet Dipke, it started as an online satire project targeting CJI comments and “lazy, jobless cockroaches”. But it soon evolved into a broader conversation about digital dissent and youth frustration, with the platform using memes and sharp political commentary to address issues such as unemployment, exam leaks and education.