India seeks to stamp out viral 'Cockroach' youth party

NEW DELHI, May 22 (AFP): Indian authorities have sought to block the social media handles of the satirical "Cockroach People's Party", formed last week in response to comments from the country's top judge seen as critical of young people.

The parody "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP) -- echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- was created after Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly called youth involved in criticism of the government "cockroaches" and "parasites" during a hearing.

He later said his comments, which spawned a slew of social media sites, were taken out of context and that he was referring to those who use fake degrees.