‘Don’t Want Him In Politics’: Cockroach Janta Party Founder’s Parents Fear Arrest, Say They’re Sleepless

‘Don’t Want Him In Politics’: Cockroach Janta Party Founder’s Parents Fear Arrest, Say They’re Sleepless Published By, Last Updated: May 22, 2026, 13:32 IST Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke's parents in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar fear his arrest and oppose his entry into politics Abhijeet Dipke founded the Cockroach Janta Party. (Source: X) In the backdrop of the meteoric popularity of Cockroach Janta Party, the parents of founder Abhijeet Dipke said that they are overwhelmed by fears that their son may face some trouble or get arrested. The satirical platform was started by Boston University student Abhijeet Dipke nearly a week ago. Since then, the group has witnessed a meteoric rise on social media, amassing more than 19 million Instagram followers within days of its launch. His parents Bhagwan and Anita Dipke, who are residents of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra, while speaking to a Marathi news channel on Thursday, said that they are not willing to let their son enter politics. Also Read: ‘Foreign Interference, Coordinated Unrest’: Why ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ Has Security Agencies Worried The parents said that they have not been able to sleep since they have come to know about Abhijeet’s move. Speaking about their fear of Abhijeet getting arrested, Bhagwan Dipke said, “If we look at politics nowadays, fear is natural, no matter how many followers he has. In one of his interviews, he himself expressed fear of being arrested after returning to India. We read about such incidents in newspapers." ‘Will Not Support Him In Politics’: Abhijeet’s Parents Meanwhile, his mother Anita said that she wants her son to stay away from politics and focus on finding a job. “We just want him to come home safely. Whether he continues in politics will be his decision, but we do not want him to pursue it. I do not know whether he will listen to us or not. I will not support him in this. I am worried about him," the mother said. She added that Abhijeet was initially studying in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and later shifted to Pune for further studies. “Engineering was difficult for him, so he decided to move towards mass media," she added. Also Read: ‘I’ll Be Taken To Tihar Jail The Moment I Land In Delhi’: Cockroach Janta Party Founder Abhijeet Dipke Bhagwan said Abhijeet took the decision of studying journalism abroad because his sister was already there. The father said that he wanted Abhijeet to get a job in Pune or Delhi. How Did Abhijeet’s Parents Learn About Cockroach Party? The parents said that they first found out about the party through a neighbour. “Later, I was told by one of my grandchildren that he has more followers on social media than many prominent people in the country. Earlier, he had worked with AAP. Even then, I had told him that we were not into politics and that he should pursue a service," Anita said. Bhagwan added that the popularity of the party on social media has made him anxious. “I’m worried because he is now famous. And such individuals get arrested. I have not slept for the past two nights worrying about what might happen to him. I hate politics and have no interest in it," he stated. Also Read: ‘Seize The Opportunity’: Shashi Tharoor’s Advice To Opposition Amid Cockroach Janta Party Frenzy The term “Cockroach Janta Party" originated as a satirical backlash to remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a recent court hearing. During the proceedings, the had reportedly referred to certain unemployed youths and social media activists as “cockroaches" and “parasites", sparking widespread criticism online. What started just days ago as a meme-driven protest campaign on social media has rapidly evolved into a viral digital movement, resonating strongly with young people frustrated over unemployment, examination paper leaks, political rhetoric and questions surrounding institutional accountability. Despite its satirical tone, the group’s manifesto includes several serious political demands. These include barring former Chief Justices from accepting post-retirement Rajya Sabha positions, increasing accountability of the Election Commission, ensuring 50 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and ministerial posts, and introducing reforms related to media ownership and employment rights. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 22, 2026, 13:20 IST News india ‘Don’t Want Him In Politics’: Cockroach Janta Party Founder’s Parents Fear Arrest, Say They’re Sleepless Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...