Government's Focus on Serious Issues Amid Social Media Trends, Says Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has asserted that the government should not feel compelled to react to every social media trend, emphasizing a focus on serious issues. His remarks follow the emergence of the 'Cockroach People Party' movement, which arose from controversial comments made by the Chief Justice of India. This satirical movement has gained millions of followers, highlighting significant concerns in education and employment. A Public Interest Litigation has also been filed against the movement, alleging misuse of judicial comments for commercial gain. Read on to explore the implications of these developments.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 25, 2026, 18:37 IST

Government's Stance on Social Media Trends

On Monday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the government does not need to respond to every issue or trend on social media. He emphasized that the administration is concentrating on 'serious matters' and that the country is governed by its elected representatives. Speaking to a news agency in Dibrugarh, Rijiju remarked, 'We are engaged in serious work. It is not appropriate to react to everything... it won't lead to anything. The public runs the country. They cast their votes, choose their representatives, and serve the nation. We focus on significant issues, but it is not necessary to comment on every single matter.'

The 'Cockroach People Party' Movement

His comments came in the wake of the 'Cockroach People Party' movement, which emerged as a satirical online protest following remarks made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Suryakant during a court hearing. The court had reportedly referred to young social media activists with low employment as 'cockroaches' and 'parasites' while reprimanding an individual in a legal petition. Although the Chief Justice later clarified that his comments were misquoted and aimed at individuals misusing fake law degrees, the damage was already done. Generation Z and millennial internet users adopted the 'cockroach' label as a badge of pride and formed a satirical 'political party' that gained significant traction on digital platforms, even surpassing mainstream political organizations.

Rapid Growth of the Movement

Within a week, this movement attracted millions of followers and highlighted structural issues in education and employment, prompting the government to take sudden action. Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking judicial action against the satirical organization 'Cockroach People Party' (CJP) for allegedly misusing the court's verbal comments and for commercial exploitation.

Allegations in the PIL

The petition, filed by lawyer Raja Chaudhary, claims that the group has exploited the court's remarks for branding, promotion, and profit through digital media. The petition states, 'The petitioner respectfully requests that subsequent developments, including activities associated with the 'Cockroach People Party,' alleged trademark-commercial claims, branding campaigns, and monetized digital dissemination, demonstrate prima facie organized commercial appropriation of judicial disputes and verbal court discussions.'