'Neither unemployed nor am I lazy but ... ': Sonam Wangchuk calls himself 'an honorary cockroach'

Environmentalist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday expressed support for the online “cockroach” movement led by the self-styled “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP), calling himself an “honorary cockroach”. He also urged the government to engage with the concerns raised by youngsters instead of suppressing their digital expression.When asked whether he would formally join the movement, Wangchuk replied that he did not qualify for membership but identified with the message that is being being put forward by the group."I have been asked from several quarters to speak on it. Some are saying I should also become a member," he said.

"I think I do not qualify -- I am neither unemployed nor am I lazy. So sadly, I am not a member. But I consider myself an honorary cockroach," Wangchuk said, as cited by PTI.The online campaign, which uses satire and the image of a cockroach, has gained traction in recent days. Its founders have alleged a crackdown on their social media presence, claiming account suspensions and hacking attempts.Positioning itself around issues such as unemployment, exam paper leaks and public accountability, the movement has drawn growing attention online.

Wangchuk said the campaign should be seen as a form of democratic feedback rather than a threat."First of all, I am very impressed. Such creative expressions by our youth are nothing to worry about and nothing to be afraid of. The government should take the message -- don't kill the messenger. If we kill the messenger, the message will not end."Drawing a comparison with political cartoons and newspaper caricatures, Wangchuk said dissent expressed through humour and symbolism is a legitimate democratic tool.“Like cartoonists in newspapers, you don't shoot them because they made a caricature of the prime minister, the home minister or the defence minister. Similarly, this is also satire. See it as feedback,” he said.Wangchuk also praised what he described as the movement’s non-violent and imaginative approach, saying young people in the country had chosen digital creativity over confrontation — something he said reflected the idea of India as a “Vishwaguru”.“I am very impressed that the youth of India wanted to bring out their frustration in such a creative way -- not on the streets with stones, as has happened in other countries,” he said. “To respect it is the duty of the Indian government, to look at it lovingly and take its message.”At the same time, Wangchuk cautioned that suppressing online spaces for expression could deepen frustration among the youth. Referring to reports that social media accounts linked to the movement were being shut down, he said authorities should avoid driving dissent underground.“Otherwise, what will happen? I am hearing that their accounts are being closed. Then this anger can go anywhere,” he said.Drawing a parallel with political unrest in Nepal, Wangchuk argued that restricting creative expression online could lead to unintended consequences.Wangchuk appealed to young people to continue expressing themselves peacefully, while also urging the government not to push them into a corner.“This is my message to the government -- do not push them,” Wangchuk said.“And I request the youth to never go towards violence. Keep raising your voice, no matter how much you talk, never go towards violence. On the other hand, the government should not force them to take the path of violence,” he added.Meanwhile, the “iconic” website of the self-styled Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was taken down on Saturday, founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed, as he accused the BJP-led Centre of acting in a “dictatorial” manner.Dipke, whose unconventional digital movement has gained traction among young social media users, took to X to allege “dictatorial behaviour” by the government. He claimed that nearly 10 lakh people had signed up as members of the platform, which has emerged as a Gen Z- and millennial-driven space centred around satire, sarcasm and meme culture targeting the system.The controversy also comes amid outrage over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, an issue that has sparked anger among lakhs of medical aspirants across the country. Dipke claimed that six lakh members of the Cockroach Janta Party had signed a petition seeking the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the examination row.