To display this YouTube content, you must allow advertising and audience measurement cookies.

An extension on your browser appears to be blocking the video player from loading. In order to view this content, you must disable it on this site.

First modification: 06/04/2026 - 17:31

In this edition of This is Asia we analyze one of the most unexpected political phenomena in contemporary India: the so-called "Cockroach Party". What began as an insult directed at young people critical of the government ended up becoming a political movement that channels the discontent of a new generation against the nationalist project promoted by Narendra Modi. How did a derogatory label become a tool of political mobilization? What does this movement reveal about the discomfort of some young Indians with the direction of the country? In addition, we analyze Malaysia's decision to restrict access to social networks for children under 16 years of age and the so-called "Komodo dragon diplomacy" between Indonesia and Japan.

Founded on May 16 by Abhijeet DIpke, 30 years old, the movement known as “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) or “Party of the Cockroaches” has become a true political phenomenon in India, adding millions of followers in just three weeks.

The party was born from an insult, after the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, compared some unemployed youth to "cockroaches" and "parasites" who could not find work due to lack of effort and ambition.

Since then, the movement has experienced meteoric growth on social networks, where it now has more than 22 million followers, far above the almost 10 million of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In India, more than half of its nearly 1.4 billion inhabitants are under 30 years old. In a country where the unemployment rate for people between 20 and 24 years old exceeds 40%, he managed to channel the anger of young people.

To display this content from X (Twitter), you must allow audience measurement and advertising cookies.

“Since the 1990s, the Indian economy has been growing at really high rates (…) but this economic growth has also been concentrated in strategic sectors that do not generate much demand for labor either,” observes Pedro Cimoli, professor of history at the UBA and specialist in India, in an interview with France 24.

From the screens to the streets?

In this context, the insults of the president of the Supreme Court unleashed the indignation of young people at the lack of job opportunities and the contempt on the part of the institutions.

In particular, the controversies that have affected several of the main exams to access public jobs in the country, such as leaks, errors in correcting results and delays in admission processes, fueled the anger of young people.

In order to support his followers, the founder of the “Cockroach Party”, Abhijeet DIpke, announced that he will return to India to lead it.

“I return to India to demand the resignation of the Minister of Education (...) If the minister does not resign, it means that in this country there is no longer something called accountability,” said the political leader on his party networks.

"Someone has to take responsibility (...) I could have accepted a job in the United States and lived comfortably there. In fact, in the last few days I have received several job offers, but I don't want to do it because I want to do something for my country," added Abhijeet DIpke.

With the return of its founder, the question now arises as to whether or not the movement can move from the screens to the streets.

“In Italy this occurred with the Five Star Movement (…) We would have to be cautious because the BJP has shown great ability to develop in cyberspace,” concludes Pedro Cimoli.

Malaysia bans social media for those under 16 years of age

In Malaysia, the ban on the use of social networks for minors under 16 years of age came into force on Monday June 1, in an attempt to protect the emotional well-being of young people.

The new regulations force platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or TikTok to verify the age of their users who want to create an account and close the accounts of users who do not meet the required age.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has announced that age verification for current users will be implemented over the next six months. Users who identify themselves as under 16 years old will have one month to download or transfer their data, including photos and videos, before restrictions or other measures are applied.

Companies that fail to comply with these regulations will face fines of up to 10 million ringgit, or about 2.5 million dollars.

Malaysia is not the only country to apply this strict legislation. In fact, several countries in the region already have similar regulations.

In December 2025, Australia was the first country in the world to design and adopt such strict legislation against tech giants, with fines reaching $32 million for non-compliance.

Indonesia followed in March 2026 with a similar regulation, while the Maldives already have advanced plans to replicate the model

Between Indonesia and Japan, Komodo dragon diplomacy

In Chinese style are its pandas, Indonesia is going to lend Japan a breeding pair of Komodo dragons, the largest living lizards in the world and an endangered species.

This operation occurs within the framework of an agreement signed on April 27 between zoos of both countries. With a special symbolic scope, it also concretizes Indonesia's “Komodo dragon diplomacy.”

"This is not just an exchange of animals. It is a bridge between our two countries, Japan and Indonesia," said Tsuyoshi Shirawa, director of the Japanese iZoo center, during the signing ceremony held at the Surabaya zoo, eastern Indonesia.

“Thanks to this cooperation, we hope that more Japanese and tourists will visit Indonesia, in particular the Komodo National Park (...) to observe the Komodo dragons in their natural habitat,” commented Ahmad Munawir, Indonesian forest official.

The agreement, lasting five years and renewable, provides in exchange for Japan to send to Surabaya a pair of red pandas, a pair of giraffes, four giant Aldabra tortoises and two female Japanese macaques, according to those responsible.

With EFE, Reuters and AFP.

Related keywords

The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.