In an open letter to ‘Gen Z’ who have signed up for the satirical organization turned mega movement ‘Cockroach Janata Party’, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor supported the campaign, which he said stems from the “desperation” gripping the generation. However, Tharoor also shared some advice.
The party, which started as a satirical movement in response to a comment by the Chief Justice of India describing youth as cockroaches, held its first press conference in Delhi on Wednesday, a day after appointing three people. spokesperson – Investigative journalist Saurav Das, political researcher and filmmaker Vijeta Dahiya and former management consultant Ashutosh Ranka.
Assuring that the “pains” of the youth are being seen, the Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor An op-ed said the youth’s reasons for supporting the CJP are “legitimate”, citing “stories emerging from the examination centres”.
Tharoor referred to recent incidents of irregularities in national-level examinations, most prominently the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and the CBSE-OSM system controversy.
“When you dedicate years of your life to preparation, sleep, social connection and mental well-being for a dream, news of paper leaks and system failure is not just a news headline – it is a betrayal of your time, your effort, and your future. The tragic news of students losing their lives in despair is a devastating reminder that a “rotten system” is not just an abstract concept; it has real, human consequences that cut to the core of our society. But there is one,” Tharoor said in his letter. Said, “There is no danger in treating your frustrations as the solution to your problems.” Op-ed for Indian Express.
Tharoor cautioned that there is a danger in stopping “only until this movement has expressed its anger and found solidarity,” adding that it is necessary for emotional liberation. History shows us that while anger can fuel a fire, it takes a steady hand and a clear strategy to create a structure that is sustainable, Tharoor said, adding, “Instagram alone doesn’t do that.”
Tharoor said that if the goal is to achieve more than just temporary attention then energy must be channeled into “something that forces the system to bend”. “That’s why you feel that working within the system that has failed you, and working against the existing system so that it meets your needs, is the most effective way forward,” he said.
Tharoor’s memory
Sharing a gentle reminder “as an MP”, Tharoor told the youth that they can hold their representatives accountable. The system is not a monolith; This includes people who, at least in theory, are grateful to you, he told Gen Z to “flood the offices of local MLAs and MPs with structured complaints and demand that they take it up with the authorities”.
He also urged to use the RTI Act to demand transparency regarding examination conduct and quota recruitment. Tharoor said, when enough voices demand answers on record, silence becomes a political liability.
Don’t just shout: Tharoor’s advice
Tharoor advised youth to professionalise their advocacy, saying that “the most successful movements in democratic history were not just shouting”. They organized, they drafted, they lobbied, they agitated, Tharoor said.
He called for greater engagement with student unions, legal groups and policy advocacy groups who know how to prepare petitions and fight cases in courts.
Changing “this is inappropriate” to “this violates Article 14 or Article 21″ makes it impossible for you to ignore, Tharoor said. If all else fails, take your case to court. But for this, you have to have a case, not just a set of slogans or memes expressing your frustration,” Tharoor said.
Appealing to the youth not to forget the power of participation, Tharoor said true change often happens in the mundane processes of daily politics.
By participating constructively in local civic bodies and engaging in informed voter mobilization, he said, you overcome the comfortable default inertia of “the system.”
Cockroach Janata Party, created by Abhijeet DubkeChief Justice of India Surya Kant became an overnight sensation after his remarks comparing some unemployed youth and social media workers to “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing.
Although the CJI later clarified that his comments were aimed at people entering professions with fake degrees and said that his comments were “misquoted”, the damage – or depending on who you ask, the meme magic – was already done.
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Dear Gen Z Indians who have signed up for the “Cockroach Janata Party”: It is impossible to look at the current landscape of India – the headlines, the stories emerging from exam centres, and the raw, unfiltered conversations coming out on social media – without feeling the immense weight of collective despair gripping your generation.
On 16 May, Abhijeet Dubke posted an invitation to join the “Cockroach Janata Party”. Five days later, he had 20 million followers on Instagram. His satirical movement has captured the imagination of Gen Z and others like you who are frustrated by the inadequacies of our political system and its failure to meet your needs. Instagram is your town square. But this is not a ballot box.
For those of you who are feeling lost, angry, and frustrated: your pain is seen, and your anger is heard. The reasons you signed up for CJP are legitimate. When you sacrifice years of your life preparing, sleep, social connections and mental well-being for a dream, news of paper leaks and system failures is not just a news headline – it is a betrayal of your time, your effort, and your future. The tragic news of students losing their lives in despair is a devastating reminder that a “rotten system” is not just an abstract concept; This has real, human consequences that affect the core of our society. But there is a danger in treating your frustrations as the solution to your problems. It is not.
The emergence of movements like CJP provides a powerful, heartbreaking, piece of political theatre. This reflects an internal feeling of being considered disposable by a system that seems unresponsive to the struggles of ordinary citizens. It seems to be a safe haven for those of you who are struggling with the heavy burden of unemployment, rising cost of living and narrowing of pathways to quality education. But it is important to show solidarity and solidarity in this movement for emotional liberation, but there is danger in stopping there. History shows us that anger can fuel fire, but building lasting structures requires a steady hand and a clear strategy. Instagram alone doesn’t do this.
If you want more than just temporary attention, you have to put this energy into something that will force the system to bend. This is why working within the system that you feel has failed you and working against the existing system so that it meets your needs is the most effective way forward.
First of all, as an MP, let me tell you that you can make your representatives accountable. The system is not a monolith; This includes people who, at least in theory, are grateful to you. Flood the offices of your local MLAs and MPs with structured complaints and demand that they take it up with the authorities. Use the RTI Act to demand transparency regarding exam conduct and appointment quotas. When enough voices demand answers on the record, silence becomes a political liability.
Subsequently, you can take advantage of institutional pressure, even if you feel that government institutions are not working for you. Mass media thrives on narratives. When your disagreement is organized around specific, actionable demands (for example, specific policy reforms for NTA oversight, concrete job creation plans, time-bound commitments to fill existing vacancies), the media is forced to cover the solution, not just the scandal. And MPs are also forced to respond, engaging in debate inside and outside the legislature about the way forward. Don’t forget that there is still a lot of good work happening in India. Make IT work for you.
But you have to professionalize your advocacy. The most successful movements in democratic history didn’t just shout and scream; They organized, they drafted, they lobbied, they agitated. Connect with student unions, legal groups and policy advocacy groups who know how to draft petitions and fight cases in courts. Changing “this is inappropriate” to “this violates Article 14 or Article 21” makes you impossible to ignore. If all else fails, take your case to court. But for this, you must have a case, and not just a set of slogans or memes expressing your disappointment.
And don’t forget the power of participation. True change often happens in the mundane processes of daily politics. By participating constructively in local civic bodies and engaging in informed voter mobilization, you remove “the system” from its comfortable default inertia.
When you become better informed and more organized than those in power, you become a force to be reckoned with.
The temptation to opt out of the system is always there. It’s easy to feel like the game is rigged and the odds are insurmountable. But remember: You are the demographic majority in a nation that is still defining its identity. You have the numbers, the digital fluency and the moral high ground to move the needle on national direction. Your aspirations reflect the future of the country. Your generation will soon be in charge. Put forward your demands creatively, and you may win.
another word. Disappointment is not an end in itself. You don’t need to behave like a cockroach, and you don’t need to adopt the label as your permanent identity. Work with mainstream politicians from all parties of your choice to be the rebuilders of a system that respects the dignity of every student and every job seeker.
Don’t let your anger turn into indifference. Let this be the fuel for a long-term, persistent demand for the changes you deserve. The system will change only when those who suffer most from its failures decide to challenge them from within, not from the outside.
Be assertive, stay organized and most importantly, stay flexible. You are the future of this country, whether the current system likes it or not. seize the opportunity. Don’t give up – and don’t be content with simply expressing your anger on Instagram. Many of us are listening, but you have to do the work yourself.
