There was a time when the ruling politicians frightened people with the threat of enemies across the border. Then they frightened us with the idea of enemies next door. Then, with enemies from another religion. Then, with enemies from another caste. After that, they looked around desperately and probably even suspected the neighbour's Labrador retriever of anti-national activities.

But suddenly, a new fear has entered their lives.

Cockroaches!

And not ordinary ones. Organised ones. United ones. Cockroaches with a political party!

The Cockroach Janata Party!

Now, before you laugh, let me warn you, these creatures are clever. Very clever. You can hit them with a chappal, spray them with poison, scream at them in three languages, and yet two minutes later, they stroll casually across the kitchen platform looking healthier than before. Some politicians are now staring nervously at these insects and whispering, "Competition!"

Today's young people are not impressed by giant cutouts, folded hands, temple visits before elections or leaders who suddenly discover spirituality exactly three months before voting day. The youth have WiFi, Google and functioning brains. A dangerous combination for outdated politicians.

They are tired of hypocrisy.

Tired of corruption being rewarded with governorships and advisory posts after retirement. Tired of leaders pretending to fight for morality while their own cupboards rattle with skeletons loud enough to need noise pollution clearance.

Most young people are not interested in manufactured hatred anymore. They want jobs. Clean streets. Better colleges. Honest systems. Faster internet. Trains that arrive on time. Roads without moon craters. They want progress, not permanent anger.

But our elderly politicians still behave like retired uncles at weddings who insist the orchestra play only songs from 1962 while everybody else wants music from this century.

And so along come the youth dressed as cockroaches.

Fearless. Shameless. Impossible to eliminate.

The Cockroach Janata Party reportedly gained more followers in one day than some political parties manage in months. Why? Because people are beginning to enjoy satire more than speeches. Humour has become resistance. Memes are replacing manifestos. One sarcastic video today does more damage than twenty opposition rallies.

That is what the oldies have not understood.

The youth are laughing now.

And when people begin laughing at power, power begins trembling.

The cockroaches will come to power.

Not because people suddenly love insects, but because the youth are tired of human beings pretending to be saints while behaving like predators. Tired of leaders shouting about morality while bargaining for posts, privileges and power behind closed doors.

So when the Cockroach Janata Party finally marches in, do not expect us oldies to run around searching for repellents or calling pest control.

No.

For the first time in years, the cockroaches may actually seem like a refreshing change from the polished hypocrites and well-dressed impostors who have crawled through our political system pretending to be saviours while happily feeding on the garbage they themselves created...