Amid ongoing protests in Delhi, leaders of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of fostering an environment of fear and stifling democratic dissent. The protests, which entered their second day, were sparked by allegations against Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with demonstrators demanding his resignation over a voter-list revision that reportedly removed around 130 million names from India’s electoral rolls.
CJP figures Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained during the protests on Saturday and subsequently released on Sunday under conditions intended to prevent public disorder. Upon their release, they criticized the government’s response and pledged to continue their demonstrations. The CJP, alongside student groups and civil society activists, claims the voter-list revision could disenfranchise minority communities and favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a charge the BJP denies, asserting the revision’s legitimacy in removing ineligible voters.
Security across the capital has been heightened, with police employing barricades, restricting public transport, and limiting internet services to manage the protests. Thousands have reportedly been detained in attempts to disperse crowd gatherings. Despite these measures, protestors, including students and CJP supporters, returned to the streets on Sunday. Activist Neha Bora and Delhi University student Surbi Yadav were among those detained, with Yadav alleging police used excessive force during her arrest.
At a press conference, CJP leaders Das and Ranka expanded their criticism beyond Kumar’s resignation, targeting Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. They condemned the use of force as a means to protect political interests, vowing to maintain the protest momentum. The BJP has dismissed these accusations, with spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia defending the voter-list revision as a necessary action to eliminate deceased and illegal voters.
Adding to the political tension, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has voiced support for accountability regarding the voter-list revision, accusing the government of electoral malpractice. His involvement adds pressure on the BJP amidst rising concerns about the integrity of India’s electoral process.
The ongoing demonstrations underscore escalating tensions over electoral transparency, civil liberties, and how public protests are managed in India. As protestors maintain their demands, the government remains focused on preventing further disturbances in the capital.