New Delhi

Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday alleged that the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP) trend circulating on social media was part of a coordinated cross-border influence campaign aimed at targeting the Narendra Modi-led government and destabilising India.

In a post on X, Chandrasekhar claimed that the campaign was being fuelled through social media manipulation, including the use of bots and artificial intelligence.

“The #CockroachParty campaign is another example of a cross-border influence operation directed against India and the PM Narendra Modi government. Such efforts are designed to create instability and are being aided by certain sections within the opposition,” he said.

Highlighting the role of technology in shaping public narratives, Chandrasekhar said influence operations had become more potent in the era of AI and digital platforms.

“In the age of social media, bots and weaponised AI, influence operations can create fake but seemingly organic narratives to weaken societies. I have always believed that India’s rise and modernisation under PM Modi would face resistance from several countries and vested interests,” he added.

The BJP leader also referred to multiple global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions involving Iran and the US, energy shocks and Chinese aggression, saying India had remained resilient under Modi’s leadership.

“Despite these global challenges, PM Modi ensured the safety of Indians and kept the economy growing. That reflects strong leadership and national resilience,” Chandrasekhar said.

He further criticised political opponents and foreign interests, asserting that no campaign could derail India’s development goals.

“No cockroach, no petty opposition politician, no anti-Modi voice or foreign vested interest can weaken our collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda reacted to reports of action against social media accounts linked to the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ trend, alleging suppression of dissent.

“I heard that their X account has been banned. After demonetisation and vote bans, now there is a ‘cockroach ban’. If someone criticises the government on social media, their accounts are shut down. This is not appropriate in a democracy,” Hooda told ANI.

He claimed the online trend reflected frustration among young people and dissatisfaction with governance.

“This movement reflects the anger among the youth and the flaws in the system created by the BJP, which has weakened governance structures,” he alleged.

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Hooda also cautioned against any one political party attempting to appropriate the campaign for its own benefit, saying such efforts could weaken the movement.