New Delhi is preparing for a second consecutive day of demonstrations after authorities detained thousands of participants, including prominent figures from the “cockroach” youth movement and opposition politicians, during a severe crackdown on Saturday.
Abhijeet Dipke, leader of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), labeled Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “bully” shortly after his release on Sunday. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the detentions were illegal, leading to the release of thousands of protesters, many affiliated with left-wing student organizations.
“Modi, as PM, is an embarrassment to India. Never has this country seen a bigger coward and bully,” Dipke stated in a post on X.
The unrest stems from demands that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign. Protesters allege that recent revisions to voter lists, which removed approximately 130 million names, disproportionately benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Critics cite technical errors and a lack of transparency in the process, which has also resulted in the deletion of millions of Muslim voters.
The demonstrations intensified following an Indian Express investigation revealing that two other election commissioners had objected to several of Kumar’s decisions. In a constitutional body of three members, decisions are typically made by majority vote.
Before Saturday’s planned march, Delhi was effectively locked down. Tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, while trains, metros, and major markets were shut down. Security forces established checkpoints, inspected vehicles, and sealed off Jantar Mantar, the traditional protest site near Parliament. Mobile internet services were suspended in several areas to hinder online mobilization efforts by youth groups.
Among those detained upon arrival from Mumbai was Dipke, along with associates Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Video footage shared by Ranka showed police boarding the Air India flight, with Dipke telling officers, “I have come to get arrested. I am not afraid of you guys.”
Delhi police also arrested YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and Neha Bora, national president of the All India Students’ Association (AISA). Television broadcasts showed the detention of opposition figures, including former chief ministers Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, and Pinarayi Vijayan.
Despite the heavy security presence, small-scale protests emerged at locations such as Dilli Haat, though police moved quickly to disperse them and detain covering journalists. Approximately 600 arrests were recorded in Mumbai, according to the ANI news agency.
By Sunday, police confirmed that all detainees had been released. CJP leaders were freed on the condition that they maintain peace for one year. Das criticized the police tactics, comparing officers to “mafia dons,” while Rathee described his arrest as a “kidnapping.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern over the temporary detention of reporters from outlets including Scroll.in and Newslaundry. CPJ’s Asia Pacific coordinator, Kunal Majumder, emphasized that a free press is essential to democracy.
Aban Raza, a visual artist detained on Saturday, described aggressive treatment by police, who tore down banners and dragged protesters toward detention buses. She noted that some arrestees were ordinary citizens, including working-class individuals, rather than active protesters.
Despite the crackdown, youth leaders have vowed to persist. Das declared on X, “We are not backing down. We are returning with full strength!” The CJP has scheduled further protests in Mumbai, while Bora initiated a demonstration at RK Ashram in central Delhi before being detained again.
The INDIA Bloc, the main opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress, has joined the demands. Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal affirmed that there would be “no backing down,” while party president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of turning India into a “Muzzled Democracy.”
The government has refused to engage in dialogue, with BJP spokesman Sambit Patra dismissing demonstrators as “anarchic elements.” The ruling party maintains that the deletions from voter rolls were necessary to remove deceased individuals, duplicates, and unmtraceable entries, attributing their electoral success to Modi’s popularity and economic growth.
International reactions have been mixed. The UN Human Rights Office called for respect of the right to peaceful assembly, while Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticized the detentions as attempts to suppress dissent. India’s mission to the UN in Geneva rejected these concerns as interference, asserting that constitutional rights are exercised within reasonable restrictions for public order.
Political analysts suggest the government fears that conceding to demands would validate accusations of electoral manipulation. Sanjay Kapoor of Hard News Magazine noted that the BJP is concerned about losing credibility and facing a significant shift in public sentiment.
Are the voter list changes really that concerning? Seems like politicians are just creating chaos before elections. Need evidence.
This crackdown is alarming. Detaining journalists and students violates democratic principles. The youth will not be silenced.