91福利社

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鈥檛 land when India's Chief Justice Surya Kant compared the unemployed to 鈥減arasites and cockroaches鈥�. 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鈥檚 account on X has been withheld in India 鈥榠n response to a legal demand鈥�. 91福利社鈥檚 South Asia Correspondent Azadeh Moshiri tells us why the cockroach symbolism is resonating but also why there may be pushback from the government.

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