New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Kerala BJP President, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, on Saturday alleged that the so-called Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) was part of a “cross-border influence operation” aimed at destabilising India, as the BJP demanded an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the satirical social media campaign.

In a post on X, Chandrasekhar described the emergence of the CJP as a coordinated influence campaign targeting both India and the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The Cockroach Janata Party gambit is yet another classic cross-border ‘influence operation’ targeting India and PM Narendra Modi’s govt — designed by vested interests to destabilise India – helped along by elements in our Opposition,” Chandrasekhar claimed.

He further warned about the growing use of Artificial Intelligence, bots and social media platforms in shaping narratives and influencing public opinion.

“In the age of social media, bots, AI and its weaponisation, influence operations are dangerous, effective ways to DESTABILISE by building fake, seemingly organic narratives,” he stated.

The BJP leader said he had consistently maintained that India’s economic growth and modernisation under PM Modi would invite resistance from several quarters internationally.

“I have always maintained, India’s rise and its modernisation under PM Narendra Modi will be resented by many countries, and there will be many hurdles created for our continued rise,” he added.

Referring to global crises in recent years, Chandrasekhar said India had managed to remain resilient despite multiple international challenges.

“Starting with Covid, world economies, even the biggest ones including India, have had to face major challenges — pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, US-Iran war, energy shocks, Chinese aggression — but through all these crises, PM Modi has kept all Indians protected, safe and resilient and kept our economy growing,” he said.

Calling it a reflection of “true leadership”, Chandrasekhar asserted that no campaign or vested interest could weaken the country’s collective resolve.

“No cockroach, no petty Indian Opposition politician, no Modi-hater, no foreign vested interest can derail our collective resolve to build a better future for all Indians,” the Kerala BJP chief added.

The CJP emerged earlier this month as a satirical political campaign reportedly founded by political communications strategist Dipke, who had earlier worked with the AAP.

The campaign gained significant traction on social media following controversy over remarks allegedly made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant against unemployed individuals during a court hearing.

The remarks triggered criticism online, particularly among younger social media users, leading to the rapid spread of the satirical campaign.

However, the Chief Justice later clarified that his observations were specifically directed at those obtaining “fake and bogus degrees” and not at legitimate legal professionals.

Currently, the CJP has crossed 21.9 million followers on Instagram.

Meanwhile, BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Manan Kumar Mishra, also backed the demand for an NIA probe and defended the Chief Justice’s remarks.

“What the Bharatiya Janata Party has said, that it should be investigated through the NIA… I am the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, and of course, a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. What I want to say is, as the leader of the Indian Bar, we are also going to issue a statement, and we will address the media as well,” Mishra told IANS.

He further said that the Chief Justice’s remarks were being interpreted out of context and were directed specifically at individuals allegedly practising law using fake degrees.

“The Chief Justice was referring to those who obtain fake degrees, wear black coats, bands, and robes, and appear in court. That statement was about them. The background of that situation was different,” he said.

Mishra also claimed that the Bar Council of India was aware of the issue of fake legal practitioners operating in court complexes.

“The Bar Council of India is aware that around 35 to 40 per cent of those seen in court complexes wearing black coats and bands are fake. Their degrees are absolutely fake; they manufactured them somewhere or bought them from somewhere, and on that basis, they are practising in courts,” he added.

–IANS

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