‘What if all legal cockroaches came together?’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke recalls first post amid CJI-NALSAR row

CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said they would protest if the BCI chairman did not withdraw the order. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has brought back the slogan that launched his satirical movement, this time turning to the legal fraternity amid the ongoing row between the Bar Council of India (BCI) and NALSAR University of Law.Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) speaks during an interview at his home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, (REUTERS)“What if all legal cockroaches come together?” Dipke posted on X as he referred to the BaCI’s decision to halt the enrolment of NALSAR’s 2026 law graduates as advocates until further orders.The BCI on Thursday directed state bar councils not to enrol the graduates following an alleged campaign by students opposing Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant being invited as chief guest at the university’s convocation. The agency rolled back the order hours later.ALSO READ | BCI halts enrolment of NALSAR 2026 graduates amid row over CJI Surya Kant in convocation, withdraws move laterFrom ‘all cockroaches’ to ‘legal cockroaches’Dipke’s latest post carries a pointed reference to the origins of the CJP movement. The movement began in May after CJI Surya Kant, during a hearing, referred to the youth of the country as “cockroaches”.Dipke, located in the US at the time, posted online the now-famous question: “What if all the cockroaches come together?” The post rapidly evolved into the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical youth movement that went on to attract a large following and eventually organise protests.Massive student-led demonstrations ultimately forced the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union education minister on July 25.Dipke had earlier publicly thanked CJI Surya Kant for the remark that inspired the movement. He said at a Jantar Mantar protest that he would not have returned to India or started the campaign had he not been called a “cockroach”.With the BCI-NALSAR controversy once again involving CJI Surya Kant, Dipke seems to have returned to the same metaphor.ALSO READ | ‘Jantar Mantar Season 2 going to start very soon’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke's big remarkDipke also appeared to tease another resignation, this time hinting at BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. “Time for Manan Mishra isteefa do? (resign)," he wrote on X.‘Legal cockroaches unite’: CJPThe founder's post led to a response from CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das. “Much needed,” he said."The Bar Council of India needs to be looked into. Manan Mishra has been its Chairman since 2012. What has he done? Needs to be accounted for. All legal cockroaches, your task is cut out. Let’s fix BCI’s accountability. Let’s fix Mishra’s accountability. #LegalCockroachesUnite,” Das wrote on X.CJP on the CJI-NALSAR controversyDas separately criticised the BCI's action against the NALSAR graduates. He said it was “grossly disproportionate, deeply troubling, and prima facie indefensible”.“Students cannot be collectively penalised for expressing dissent over a ceremonial invitation. The Cockroach Janta Party condemns this order,” Das said.He also warned that if BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra did not withdraw the order, CJP would mobilise law students, advocates, senior lawyers and its supporters to protest outside the BCI office and Mishra’s official residence.Mishra later responded to the protest threat: “Council has already withdrawn that letter.”Das, though, claimed the order had not been fully withdrawn. He said the BCI’s new letter still sought the names of students and called for an inquiry against them.“IMMEDIATELY withdraw that entire letter,” Das wrote on X and demanded no NALSAR student face an inquiry for expressing dissent against CJI Surya Kant.He also said the CJP’s protest call would remain in place until the BCI withdrew the letter completely and assured that no action would be taken against the students.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. 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