What in the World

Why India's Cockroach Janta Party has got people talking


Listen Later

The cockroach has become an unlikely symbol for millions of Gen-Zs in India, thanks to the Cockroach Janta Party - a satirical collective posting online. Nearly 40% of graduates aged 15-25 in India are jobless and many of them are frustrated or disillusioned with politics. So, it didn’t land when India's Chief Justice Surya Kant compared the unemployed to “parasites and cockroaches”. He later clarified that the comments were directed at people with fake degrees. But within days the Cockroach Janta Party attracted over 22 million followers and lots of support.

At the time of recording this podcast, the group’s account on X has been withheld in India ‘in response to a legal demand’. BBC’s South Asia Correspondent Azadeh Moshiri tells us why the cockroach symbolism is resonating but also why there may be pushback from the government.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld

WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producer: Emily Horler, William Lee Adams and Benita Barden
Editor: Verity Wilde

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

What in the WorldBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

16 ratings


More shows like What in the World

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,720 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

517 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

289 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,797 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,746 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,024 Listeners

Learning English Vocabulary by BBC Radio

Learning English Vocabulary

491 Listeners

Learning English Stories by BBC Radio

Learning English Stories

375 Listeners

Learning English Grammar by BBC Radio

Learning English Grammar

317 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

957 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

477 Listeners

Learning English from the News by BBC Radio

Learning English from the News

242 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

385 Listeners

Learning English For Work by BBC News

Learning English For Work

43 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

26 Listeners