The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led political group in India, has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of stifling democratic dissent as anti-government protests continued in Delhi for a second day. The protests, organized by the CJP along with student groups and civil activists, are demanding the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of electoral malpractice.
The demonstrations were sparked by claims that approximately 130 million names were unjustly removed from India’s electoral rolls, a move critics argue could disenfranchise minority communities to the benefit of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has refuted these claims, asserting that the voter-list revision is a necessary procedure aimed at eliminating ineligible voters.
During Saturday’s protests, CJP leaders Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained but released the following day under conditions intended to maintain public order. Despite the crackdown, CJP supporters continued their demonstrations on Sunday, with some protesters alleging abusive treatment and overcrowded detention conditions. Student activist Neha Bora and Delhi University student Surbi Yadav reported excessive force by police during detentions, vowing to persist with the protests until their demands are met.
Authorities in Delhi responded to the protests with heightened security measures, including police barricades and restrictions on public transport and internet services. Thousands of demonstrators were reportedly detained as police sought to prevent gatherings at protest sites.
At a press conference, CJP leaders expanded the scope of their grievances to include broader criticisms of Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing the government of using force to shield political interests. In response, the BJP dismissed these allegations as unfounded, with party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia defending the voter-list revision as a legitimate effort to remove deceased and illegal voters.
The protests have intensified political tensions in India, highlighting concerns over electoral transparency and civil liberties. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has also called for accountability regarding the voter-list revision, adding pressure on the Modi administration amid growing scrutiny over the integrity of the electoral process.