Modi Breaks Instagram’s Reel Record with 300 Million Views as Student Protests Sweep India
The 75-year-old prime minister posted two selfie videos as the Cockroach Janta Party, born from a judge’s slur against unemployed youth, drew millions of followers and demanded the education minister’s resignation.
July 25, 2026 – 10:32 am
TL;DR
Modi broke Instagram’s Reel view record with over 300 million views as student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party swept India. The previous single-Reel record belonged to YouTuber IShowSpeed.
The protests stem from India’s NEET medical entrance exam, which was cancelled after a paper leak in May. Student organizer Abhijeet Dipke founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), drawing over 20 million followers across platforms and demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Modi’s government has responded with both digital crackdowns and public outreach, including summoning Meta executives over ad moderation failures and ordering the company to remove child safety violations from the platform.
While Modi typically favors formal addresses, his Reels videos are a new attempt to connect with younger audiences. The record-breaking viewership highlights India’s massive social media audience, even as the government tightens controls over these platforms. Whether this strategy can shift the conversation remains uncertain.
The CJP shows no signs of backing down, suggesting Modi faces a formidable digital opposition.