Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday criticised the central govt’s bid to shut down the X account of the youth collective called the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Vijayan said the BJP bid reflected its intolerance toward democratic dissent. “It also reveals the anxiety over whether this could grow into a broader political protest movement. Why is the BJP so afraid?,” Vijayan asked.He said the platform quickly drew more public attention and acceptance than the BJP’s official publicity machinery. “That young people facing joblessness, hardship and neglect were drawn to this sudden protest is a sign of deep dissatisfaction with the current socio-political climate,” the opposition leader said. “The protest against the label ‘cockroaches’ should not be dismissed as a mere knee-jerk reaction. It carries the intensity of a strong political response against a system steeped in unemployment, inequality and exploitation. The fear that this sentiment would spread further is what is driving the central govt towards silencing such democratic voices,” he added.One may disagree with a political idea or a form of protest. But trying to wipe out a youth protest that is exercising constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of speech and association—by misusing laws or administrative powers—runs against the spirit of democratic India and constitutional values. “I strongly condemn this action by the central govt. I urge all forces that believe in democracy and freedom of expression to protest firmly against it,” Vijayan added.
