- Makhi Janta Party (MJP) formed after CJI's "fly" remark.
- Gained 3.3 lakh Instagram followers in just 72 hours.
- Seeking alliance with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
A new satirical outfit, the Makhi Janta Party (MJP), has emerged on social media after the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant remarked about using a “hammer to kill a fly”. Inspired by the observation, the group has gained traction on Instagram and is seeking to contact the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to explore possible coordinated action.
The MJP claims to have received more than 40 lakh views and gained over 3.3 lakh Instagram followers within 72 hours. Its page identifies a student named Aaryan as its founder, while a story posted on the account says the outfit is looking for spokespersons.
The group presents itself through satire, using the image of a fly to respond to the CJI's remark. In a post explaining the name, it wrote: “Jab CJI ne hi kaha, ‘Can't use hammer to kill a fly!’ ab to makkhi bhi bolegi hum bhi kisi se kum nahi. (When the CJI himself said, ‘Can't use hammer to kill a fly!’ now even the fly will say it is no less than anyone else.)”
Why Did The Makhi Janta Party Emerge?
The MJP's emergence follows the Supreme Court's observations on October 9, when a bench led by CJI Surya Kant questioned the blanket closure of 57 Delhi Metro stations ahead of the CJP's planned protest on October 10.
The bench stressed that authorities could regulate public transport for security reasons without bringing the entire system to a halt. “One can regulate, but it is completely different to put a halt on everything…you cannot stop everything,” it said, adding that authorities could not use a “hammer to kill a fly (makkhi)”.
The MJP appears to have adopted the fly reference as the basis of its name and online identity.
Instagram Account Changed Username Eight Times
According to its Instagram account information, the page was created in June 2021 and changed its username eight times before adopting its current handle, makhijantaparty. The account's reported follower growth and view count have drawn attention to the new outfit.
How Is MJP Linked To The Cockroach Janta Party?
The MJP's emergence draws a parallel with the CJP, which began as a satirical response to the CJI's earlier use of the word “cockroaches” while referring to a section of young people. The CJP subsequently developed into a wider online movement associated with protests and demands for political accountability.
The MJP has expressed solidarity with the CJP and All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, who has been protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a statement on Instagram, the MJP praised Bora's “courage and determination”, saying that raising questions and demanding accountability were essential to democracy. It also acknowledged that the recent protest had taken place without the required permission from the authorities and urged citizens to protest responsibly and in accordance with the law.
The outfit said it was trying to contact the CJP to explore a common stand or coordinated action, subject to mutual agreement.
In a separate statement signed by Aaryan on Tuesday, the MJP questioned the detention of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das after they entered Jantar Mantar and hoisted the Indian flag.
Arguing that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site, the group questioned restrictions on demonstrations at locations away from public attention.
“So what's the point of a protest site if people can't make their voices heard where it matters?” the statement asked. “Democracy needs dialogue, not distance,” it added.