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 Cockroach Janata Party's X account withheld05/21/2026May 21, 2026

Cockroach Janata Party's X account withheld

Hours after the Cockroach Janata Party overtook PM Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party on Instagram, it faced a setback on a different social media platform. 

The satirical party, which is now turning into a youth-led movement against the BJP, said its X account, 'CPJ_2029' was "banned in India."

Founder Abhijeet Dipke shared a screenshot of the blocked account. "As expected, Cockroach Janta Party’s account has been withheld in India," he said.

On Instagram, Dipke urged his over 10 million followers to protest against the move. "We hadn't written anything wrong. We only demanded the resignation of the (education) minister because a student has committed suicide. We only want accountability. What kind of a democracy is this?" he said in a video message. 

Dipke and the CJP had been demanding the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, after a massive all-India pre-medical entrance exam was canceled due to allegations of leaked papers. 

The high-pressure exam is set to be reconducted in June, but students across India have been impacted by the developments. As per Indian media reports, at least two students have committed suicide due to the cancelation.

Dipke had earlier reported that he was fending off attempts to hack into the CJP's Instagram account.

India has a legal framework that allows the government to intervene directly in online content by ordering platforms to remove or block content on grounds such as national security or public order.

These directives are legally binding but are not made public.  

https://p.dw.com/p/5E5I0Skip next section The threat of heatstrokes in India05/21/2026May 21, 2026

The threat of heatstrokes in India

The Times of India on Thursday reported that the operator of an auto rickshaw was found dead in the city of Prayagraj. Police investigations revealed that he had died of heatstroke, the report said.

In 2025, the non-profit organization HeatWatch recorded at least 2,287 cases of heat-related illnesses across India between months of February and July. The study also found that 84 people had died of heatstroke in the same time period and that the cases were likely underreported. 

Based on data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, news agency PTI reported nearly 7,200 suspected cases of heatstrokes and 14 related deaths between March and June 24 of 2025. 

News outlet NDTV on Thursday reported that several heat-relief vans operated by the local government had been seen across Delhi, distributing caps, cold water, and electrolytes to the public.

While the weather agency has advised people to stay out of the sun, that is not an option for many. Indian media have long reported on the plight of construction workers, service providers, local vendors, and public transport drivers who live on daily wages. 

How to protect Delhi's informal workers from extreme heat

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https://p.dw.com/p/5E5HySkip next section Heatwave empties roads, markets in northern India05/21/2026May 21, 2026

Heatwave empties roads, markets in northern India

Roads and markets in several cities across northern and central India stood nearly empty as a severe heatwave gripped the nation. Other cities moved to provide relief to its residents.

India's national weather agency said temperatures in New Delhi rose as much as 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday and will remain at about 45 degrees Celsius on Thursday. 

The India Meteorological Department warned of heatwaves to severe heatwaves across northwestern, central, and eastern India for the next five days, asking residents to stay alert for heat-related illnesses.

Heatwaves are a common accurance across India in the months of summer but experts say temperatures have been steadily rising due to climate change. 

https://p.dw.com/p/5E59ISkip next section Modi's toffee gift to Meloni triggers stock movement, but there’s a twist05/21/2026May 21, 2026

Modi's toffee gift to Meloni triggers stock movement, but there’s a twist

Shares of Parle Industries surged 5% on the Indian stock markets on Wednesday and Thursday, hitting the upper circuit, as Indian Investors responded to a viral exchange between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni. 

In a light-hearted video, Meloni had thanked the Indian prime minister for gifting her a pack of chocolate toffees called "Melody," on Wednesday. 

It was a tongue-in-cheek reference to a recurring social media trend that pairs Modi and Meloni romantically, with the so-called couple name: "Melodi." 

The twist? Parle Industries has nothing to do with the chocolate toffee, which is produced by a privately held company named Parle Products.

The former is an infrastructure, real estate, and recycling company. While it was once promoted by the family that now produces the chocolates, it has long been run independently of them.

https://p.dw.com/p/5E4qlSkip 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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