New Delhi: Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Rajiv Chandrasekhar on Saturday claimed that the emerging ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP) trend on social media was part of a cross-border ‘influence operation’ aimed at destabilizing India and targeting the Centre.
In a post on X, Chandrasekhar alleged that the campaign was amplified through social media manipulation and foreign influence tactics.
“The #CockroachParty maneuver is another classic cross-border influence operation targeting India and the government of Prime Minister Narendramodi – designed by vested interests to destabilize India – with the help of elements in ‘our opposition,’” Chandrasekhar said in the post.
Drawing attention to the role of technology and online propaganda, he also said: “In the age of social media, bots, artificial intelligence and its weaponisation, influence operations are dangerous and effective ways of destabilization by building false narratives that appear organic. I have always maintained that India’s rise and modernization under PM @narendramodi will dissatisfy many countries and there will be many hurdles to our continued rise.”
Referring to the global crises faced in recent years, Chandrasekhar said, “Starting with the coronavirus, the world’s economies, even the largest, including India’s, have had to face major challenges – the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, the US-Iran war, energy shocks, Chinese aggression – but through all these crises, Prime Minister Modi has kept all Indians protected, safe and resilient and has kept our economy growing. #Don’tForget. This is the mission of true leadership, our united response to nations.” “The challenges the world faces are the right thing to do today.”
He also slammed critics of the BJP and Prime Minister Modi, saying, “No cockroach, no petty Indian opposition politician, no Modi-hating clown, no foreign interest can derail our collective resolve to build a better future for all Indians #ViksitBharat.”
Meanwhile, Congress leader Deepinder Singh Hooda responded to the controversy surrounding the social media trend and alleged actions against accounts related to the Kokruch Janta Party.
“Today I heard that their
Claiming that the trend reflects broader public sentiment, the Congress leader said: “I believe this movement is a reflection of the youth, the deep anger among them, and the flawed system created by the BJP which has completely damaged the governance structure.”
He also warned against political takeover of the campaign. “If this falls into the trap of the Aam Aadmi Party or anyone else, or if just one political entity tries to hijack it, the movement will simply wither and die.”
