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Cockroach Janata Party Overtakes BJP on Instagram; India-Italy Upgrade Diplomatic Ties

On May 21, 2026, the satirical Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) Instagram account—launched after the Chief Justice of India compared some unemployed youth to "cockroaches"—amassed over 10.8 million followers, surpassing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and reflecting widespread youth frustration with India’s political system. Concurrently, Modi concluded a five-nation tour by holding bilateral talks in Italy, elevating India-Italy relations to a "special strategic partnership" with a goal to boost bilateral trade to €20 billion within three years, while severe heatwaves hit parts of India, leading to extended school vacations and relief measures in Delhi.