‘Cockroach Janta Party’ gets a new rival? Ex-Supreme court judge Markandey Katju announces ‘Ishq Karo Party’, says 'make love not war'

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju has called on Indian youth to join a newly announced initiative named the “Ishq Karo Party”, describing it as a platform built on the principle of “Make Love Not War”. In a post on his official X account, Markandey Katju said those interested to join "Ishq Karo Party" may write to ishqkaroparty@gmail.com.



The remarks were made in a post on social media platform X, where he outlined the structure and purpose of the organisation. His remarks come when India's viral Cockroach ‌Janta Party (CJP) led a street protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam paper leaks.


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The CJP's founder Abhijeet Dipke carried a copy of India's constitution as he left New ⁠Delhi's international airport for the protest site, greeted by hundreds of supporters chanting his name. Though the group amassed over 22 million Instagram followers since launching in mid-May, only a few hundred protesters gathered near Jantar Mantar on June 6.

Markandey Katju invites Mrinal Pande to join

A purported screenshot is going viral which shows Markandey Katju inviting writer and journalist Mrinal Pande to join the newly formed 'Ishq Karo Party'. "Mrinal, forget the clowns of CJP, and join the newly formed Ishq Karo Party, whose agenda is Make Love Not War. I am its patron, and its Chairman is Irfan Ali, who lives and works in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. We are preparing its website, instagram account, etc," one of his purported tweets read.

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To this, Mrinal Pande replied, "Chal, mera dimag kharab hai kya?" (sic).

‘Cockroach Janta Party’ Gets a New Rival?

Markandey Katju, former Press Council of India chairman, has once again grabbed attention on social media, this time with the announcement of a new political outfit called the Ishq Karo Party. The move comes months after his satirical references to the so-called "Cockroach Janta Party," giving social media users yet another unconventional political idea to discuss.

The announcement has led many social media users to jokingly describe the Ishq Karo Party as a new rival to the "Cockroach Janta Party," a phrase that has previously surfaced in Katju's online commentary.

While the Cockroach Janta Party was largely discussed in a satirical context, the emergence of the Ishq Karo Party has sparked fresh conversations and memes across social platforms.

What Does ‘Ishq Karo’ Mean?

The phrase "Ishq Karo" translates roughly to "fall in love" or "love one another." By choosing such a name, Katju appears to be promoting a message centered on affection, harmony and human connection rather than traditional political themes.

However, Katju has not yet released any formal manifesto, objectives, or organisational details beyond the membership invitation shared on social media.

Social Media Reacts

As with many of Katju's posts, reactions ranged from amusement to curiosity. Some users welcomed the idea as a light-hearted intervention in a polarized political environment, while others questioned whether the party would ever move beyond social media.

For now, the Ishq Karo Party exists primarily as an online announcement, but it has already succeeded in generating buzz and drawing comparisons with the equally unusual Cockroach Janta Party. "Manifesto of the party?," asked a user online. "Sir kya one-sided ishq wale bhi join kar skte hai??," asked another one.

Who Is Markandey Katju?

Markandey Katju is a retired Supreme Court judge who served on India's highest court from April 2006 until his retirement in September 2011. Born on September 20, 1946, he studied at the University of Allahabad, where he topped the LL.B. merit list in 1967. He began his legal career at the Allahabad High Court and later rose through the judiciary, serving as Chief Justice of both the Madras and Delhi High Courts before being elevated to the Supreme Court.

Career and family

Katju comes from a prominent legal and political family. His father, S. N. Katju, was a judge of the Allahabad High Court, while his grandfather, Kailash Nath Katju, held several key positions including Union Home Minister, Defence Minister, governor and Chief Minister. Apart from law, Katju has a keen interest in history, philosophy, science, Sanskrit and Urdu, and has authored several books on law and legal interpretation.

His rise through the judiciary was swift:

• Judge, Allahabad High Court (1991)
• Acting Chief Justice, Allahabad High Court (2004)
• Chief Justice, Madras High Court (2004)
• Chief Justice, Delhi High Court (2005)
• Judge, Supreme Court of India (2006)

After retiring from the Supreme Court, Katju served as Chairman of the Press Council of India from 2011 to 2014. He remains a well-known public figure due to his frequent commentary on legal, political and social issues, often generating debate through his outspoken views