Kottayam, June 1 — Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday urged media organisations to give greater prominence to positive developments and constructive initiatives, warning that a lack of such coverage could drive young people towards platforms such as the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Addressing the 140th anniversary celebrations of Malayalam daily Deepika in Kottayam, Radhakrishnan said responsible journalism plays a critical role in guiding society and shaping the outlook of younger generations.
“Positive activities should be reported well. Only then will youngsters receive the right information. Otherwise, they will lose interest and end up following the ‘cockroach’,” he said, in an apparent reference to the growing popularity of the Cockroach Janta Party among sections of youth on social media.
The Vice President stressed that “constructive journalism was essential for strengthening public confidence and ensuring that noble ideas and positive messages reach every section of society.”
“As India marches forward with confidence and aspiration under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the role of responsible media institutions becomes even more significant,” he said.
While asserting that he was not opposed to freedom of expression, Radhakrishnan questioned the tendency to devote extensive attention to issues and trends that may prove short-lived.
Apparently referring to the buzz surrounding the Cockroach Janta Party, he said sudden popularity alone should not determine news value.
“If something is genuinely good, people will continue to recognise its value after a week, 10 days, or even a month. Nobody knows about them. All of a sudden, they are everywhere. That cannot last,” he said.
The remarks come amid the rapid rise of the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical online platform that has gained traction among young users through memes and political commentary.
The platform emerged after a controversy involving remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a court hearing, in which a section of youth was reported to have been described as “cockroaches” and “parasites”.
The Chief Justice later clarified that his observations had been misquoted and were directed at individuals entering the legal profession with “fake and bogus degrees”.
The controversy, however, sparked the creation of the Cockroach Janta Party by political communication strategist Abhijeet Dipke.
Initially launched as a satirical response to the episode and aimed at what it described as “lazy and unemployed cockroaches”, the platform soon evolved into a broader outlet for digital dissent. Through humour and sharp commentary, it has addressed issues including unemployment, examination paper leaks and concerns in the education sector, attracting significant engagement from younger audiences online.