Modi Government Detains Thousands in Delhi Voter Protest Crackdown
Prime Minister Narendra Modi authorized a crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party protesters in Delhi over allegations of mass voter roll deletions.
The government of Narendra Modi launched a heavy-handed crackdown on protests in Delhi over the weekend, detaining thousands of young people and journalists. The demonstrations were led by the Cockroach Janta party, a Gen Z political movement founded by Abhijeet Dipke, which focuses on allegations that over 130 million voters were deleted from electoral rolls to benefit the Bharatiya Janata party.
Protesters are demanding the resignation of India's election chief, citing reports that voter deletions in West Bengal specifically aided Bharatiya Janata party victories in state elections. In West Bengal, 2.7 million voters were struck off the rolls, coinciding with the party's first-ever victory in the state. While the Election Commission of India denies the charges, some commissioners have expressed internal concern over the removals.
The Cockroach movement, which grew from anger over youth unemployment and exam leaks, continues to hold daily protests in the capital. These actions persist despite police intervention and a Supreme Court of India order to protect peaceful assembly. Abhijeet Dipke was among those detained by authorities upon landing in Delhi.
