NEW Delhi: A fresh satirical platform named the ‘Makhi Janata Party’ (MJP) has emerged on social media following a remark by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Taking inspiration from the CJI’s idiom, “you cannot use a sledgehammer to kill a fly,” the digital handle gained over 40 lakh views and more than 3.3 lakh followers on its Instagram account within 72 hours.
The MJP is now seeking alignment and solidarity with the Cockroach Janata Party another platform that originated as a satirical response to a comment before evolving into a youth-driven movement demanding political accountability.
Origin and CJI Kant’s Remark
The MJP explicitly attributes its name to Chief Justice Surya Kant’s observations during a hearing on October 9. The Supreme Court bench was questioning the rationale behind shutting down public transport in Delhi ahead of a planned protest by the CJP on October 10. While noting that regulating public transport due to security concerns might be permissible, the bench emphasized that halting the entire system was entirely different.
Reminding authorities to maintain proportion, the judges remarked that one cannot use a sledgehammer to kill a fly. Responding to the statement, MJP posted on social media that since the CJI himself acknowledged that excessive force should not be used for minor matters, the “fly” would now raise its voice too.
Account Details and Leadership
According to page details, the Instagram handle (makhijantaparty.ig) was originally created in June 2021 and changed its username eight times before adopting its current identity. The page identifies a student named Aryan as its founder. An Instagram story posted on the handle noted that the group is currently looking for a spokesperson.
Solidarity with CJP and Protests
MJP has extended support to CJP and express solidarity with All India Students Association (AISA) member Neha Bora, who has been protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In an Instagram statement, MJP backed Bora’s stance, stating that questioning authority and demanding accountability are vital for democracy.
While acknowledging that recent demonstrations took place without the required official permissions, MJP appealed to citizens to exercise their right to protest responsibly and within legal frameworks. The group added that it is attempting to reach out to CJP to explore coordinated action and a common platform.
Questions Over Jantar Mantar Detentions
In a separate statement signed by founder-president Aryan on Tuesday, MJP raised questions over the detention of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Aurav Das after they entered Jantar Mantar to unfurl the Indian national flag.
Pointing out that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site, the statement argued that restricting demonstrations to locations hidden from public view diminishes their impact. It questioned the purpose of designated sites if citizens cannot raise their voices where needed, emphasizing that democracy requires dialogue rather than distance.
The Rise of CJP
The MJP’s emergence follows the trajectory of CJP, which was formed after the word “cockroach” was used to describe a group of youths. What began as a sarcastic response later expanded into a platform demanding political accountability, including calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during countrywide protests at Jantar Mantar over alleged exam irregularities in July.
With MJP’s rapid growth on social media, the CJI’s metaphor has spurred another satirical digital platform seeking to engage young citizens on public accountability and democratic rights.
