India news: Cockroaches overtake Modi's BJP on Instagram

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• Cockroach Janata Party gets over 10 million followers on Instagram in days, overtaking India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
• Delhi suffers with maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius, amid heatwave

Here are the some of the main headlines that have got India talking on Thursday, May 21: 

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Skip next section India and Italy elevate ties to 'special strategic partnership'05/21/2026May 21, 2026

India and Italy elevate ties to 'special strategic partnership'

New Delhi and Rome have elevated their diplomatic ties to a "special strategic partnership," after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Italian counterpart.

"Today, here in Rome, we are elevating our relationship to the level of a special strategic partnership — the highest ever achieved in relations between our two nations," Meloni said following the talks held at the Villa Pamphili, a 17th-century villa where foreign leaders are often officially received. 

"We can say without fear of contradiction that Italy and India are now closer than ever, and that our relations are now in a position to realise their full potential," added Meloni.

As part of an agreement, India and Italy will aim to raise bilateral trade to €20 billion ($23 billion) over the next three years. 

Italy is currently India's fourth-largest trading partner in the EU. In 2025, bilateral trade between the two countries reached €14.25 billion. 

On the other hand, India has become Italy's second-largest trading partner in Asia, after China, according to Italy's foreign affairs ministry.

This was Modi's first visit to Italy for bilateral talks and the third trip overall. It was the last leg of the Indian premier's five-nation tour, which began on May 15 and saw him visit the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway before landing in Rome.

https://p.dw.com/p/5E4mRSkip next section Modi's BJP is facing a 'Cockroach' infestation05/21/2026May 21, 2026

Modi's BJP is facing a 'Cockroach' infestation

A parody political party, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), gathered millions of followers within 24 hours on Meta-owned social media platform Instagram to overtake theworld's largest political party — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)

The CJP had less than a million followers on Tuesday which quickly grew to over three million followers on Wednesday morning and more than 10.8 million followers on Thursday. That's higher than the 8.7 million people following the BJP on the platform. 

"I can't tell you how happy I am today. We are just hours away from overtaking the world's largest party on Instagram," CJP's founder Abhijeet Dipke said in a post on Wednesday evening. 

"You are about to make history," he said, saluting India's youth for "bringing the BJP to their knees in just four days." 

"Think of what else you can do," he said.

What is the cockroach movement? 

It all began on May 15 when the Chief Justice of India criticized India's youth — likening some of them to "parasites" and "cockroaches" — while speaking about fake degrees at a case hearing.

"There are youngsters like cockroaches who do not get any employment…some of them become media, some become social media, some RTI activists, and they start attacking everyone," he had said. 

Within a day, Dipke asked, "What if all cockroaches come together?" 

Up came the parody website with a five-point manifesto, promising to clamp down on corruption, inter-party defection and increasing women representation in the Indian parliament. Eligibility criteria to join the parody party includes laziness, unemployment and a chronic presence online.

The CJP is currently headquartered at "wherever the wifi works."

DW has reached out to BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi ,who is yet to respond to our queries. We will update you if and when she does. 

https://p.dw.com/p/5E4jCSkip next section 'No longer a satire,' Cockroach Janata Party founder tells DW05/21/2026May 21, 2026

'No longer a satire,' Cockroach Janata Party founder tells DW

DW Reporter Shalu Yadav spoke to the man who created the Cockroach Janata Party.

Abhijeet Dipke told DW that while the movement came out of one, it was "no longer a satire or a joke."

"It's getting pretty serious," he had said.

Watch the full report here: 

https://p.dw.com/p/5E4kLSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/21/2026May 21, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning! and welcome to DW's India news blog. 

This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi bureau and I will bring to you the hottest news stories (quite literally) from the country. 

Much of northwest, central and east India is facing heatwaves this week with India's weather agency issuing warnings for people to stay out of the sun and remain hyderated. Schools in the national capital have extended summer vacations to keep children safe and authorities have installed relief vans across the city to aid people with caps and cold water. 

As Indians try to stay indoors, millions of youth have found a new purpose online in the Cockroach Janata Party. A satirical account meant to criticize the authorities for growing unemployment and online censorship, the CJP has zoomed past Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party on Instagram. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded bilaterial talks in Italy, prompting New Delhi and Rome to upgrade their diplomatic ties to a "Special Strategic Partnership."

I will give you details and context for all of that, and more. Stay tuned!

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