Mass Protests Hit Delhi Over Voter Roll Purge
Rahul Gandhi and the Cockroach movement lead mass protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Mass protests led by Rahul Gandhi and the Cockroach movement have erupted in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The unrest follows reports of a voter roll purge and comes after a previous wave of demonstrations over exam-paper leaks that forced the education minister to resign.
Following a call for mass mobilization by Gandhi on October 12, protesters filled the streets of Delhi, utilizing the national flag and satirical displays to challenge the legitimacy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. The state responded by deploying 90,000 security personnel, closing metro stations, and implementing internet blackouts.
Authorities have detained several key figures, including student leader Neha Bora and Cockroach movement leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka. The Delhi Police have banned assembly at major sites including Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place as the Bharatiya Janata Party government continues to use state apparatuses to restrict protesters and journalists.
