Pune: Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday said the popularity of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party reflected the participation of youth in public discourse and such enthusiasm should be encouraged, not ignored.A youth from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, who is currently pursuing his masters degree in Boston University in the US, recently went viral on social media for starting the ‘political outfit.’ The group has drawn massive engagement online and is gaining more followers than several mainstream political parties.Speaking to reporters in his hometown Ralegan Siddhi in Ahilyanagar district, Hazare said, “Youth power is the strength of the nation. The govt should recognise it and encourage the young people supporting the party, instead of ignoring them.”Hazare said the focus should not be on the party’s unusual name, but the scale of support it has attracted from the younger generation. “The name may sound inappropriate. However, the kind of response and backing the party is receiving from the youth is what is important,” he said.Reacting to the recent remarks reportedly made by the Chief Justice of India, Hazare said he was unaware of the context in which the term cockroach had been used. “I do not know the intention why the word was used. One would have to understand the context behind the remark,” he added.
