A satirical outfit called the Makhi Janta Party (MJP) has emerged on social media following a recent remark by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, drawing parallels with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which gained attention after an earlier controversy involving the judge.
The MJP claimed on Tuesday that its Instagram account had garnered more than 40 lakh views and over 3.3 lakh followers within 72 hours. The page identifies a student named Aaryan as its founder and has also announced that it is looking for spokespersons.
According to Instagram account information, the page joined the platform in June 2021 and changed its username eight times before adopting its current identity.
How CJI’s Remark Inspired the MJP
The MJP’s name appears to be inspired by a remark made by CJI Surya Kant during a Supreme Court hearing on October 9 concerning restrictions imposed ahead of a Cockroach Janta Party protest in Delhi.
The court questioned the rationale behind a blanket shutdown of public transport ahead of the October 10 demonstration, observing that authorities could regulate services to address security concerns without bringing the entire system to a halt.
“One can regulate but it is completely different to put a halt on everything… you cannot stop everything,” the bench observed, adding that authorities could not use a “hammer to kill a fly”.
Responding to the remark, the MJP posted: “Jab CJI ne hi kaha, ‘Can’t use hammer to kill a fly!’ ab to makkhi bhi bolegi hum bhi kisi se kum nahi.”
The statement translates to: “When the CJI himself said, ‘Can’t use a hammer to kill a fly’, now even the fly will say it is no less than anyone else.”
MJP Expresses Solidarity With CJP Protesters
The MJP has also expressed solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party and All India Students’ Association (AISA) member Neha Bora, who has been involved in protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the MJP said it supported Bora’s “courage and determination”, adding that questioning authorities and demanding accountability were essential to democracy.
The outfit also acknowledged that the protest had taken place without the required permission from authorities. It urged citizens to exercise their right to protest responsibly and in accordance with the law.
The MJP said it was attempting to contact the CJP to explore the possibility of a common stand or coordinated action, subject to mutual agreement.
Questions Detention of CJP Leaders
In another statement signed by Aaryan, identified as the outfit’s founding president, the MJP questioned the detention of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das following a protest at Jantar Mantar, where they allegedly breached restrictions and hoisted the Indian flag.
Arguing that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site, the MJP questioned the effectiveness of restricting demonstrations to locations where protesters struggle to attract public attention.
“So what’s the point of a protest site if people can’t make their voices heard where it matters?” the statement asked.
“Democracy needs dialogue, not distance,” it added, reiterating the outfit’s support for peaceful protests, democratic rights and public participation.
From Online Satire to Political Expression
The MJP’s emergence follows the rise of the CJP, which began as a satirical response to a controversy over the use of the word “cockroaches” in reference to a section of young people and subsequently became associated with protests and demands for accountability.
The new outfit has used similar humour to build its online identity, drawing attention to questions about public protest, democratic rights and the language used by those in authority.
Whether the MJP develops into a sustained campaign beyond social media posts and satire remains to be seen.
