Leaders of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of stifling dissent and creating an atmosphere of fear, as anti-government protests continued in Delhi for a second day. The protests, involving student groups and civil society activists, demand the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter-list manipulation.
The demonstrations were sparked by claims that a revision of the voter list removed approximately 130 million names, potentially disenfranchising minority communities to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has refuted these allegations, asserting that the revision is a legitimate effort to eliminate ineligible voters.
During the protests, CJP leaders Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained along with thousands of others, amid heavy police presence and security measures across the capital. They were released under conditions meant to prevent public order breaches. Despite the crackdown, protestors, including student activist Neha Bora and Delhi University student Surbi Yadav, continued to demonstrate, accusing police of using excessive force and abusive treatment during detentions.
At a press conference, CJP leaders Das and Ranka expanded their criticism to include broader grievances against Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing the government of using force to protect political interests. The BJP has dismissed these accusations as baseless, with spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia defending the voter-list revision.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has joined calls for accountability regarding the voter-list revision, further increasing pressure on the ruling party concerning the integrity of the electoral process. The ongoing protests reflect escalating political tensions in India over electoral transparency, civil liberties, and the management of public dissent.
As the situation develops, protestors remain determined to maintain pressure on the government, while authorities focus on preventing further unrest in the capital.