India's 'cockroach' movement says it will launch protest if poll panel chief doesn't quit in 48 hours
MUMBAI: The leaders of India’s “cockroach” youth movement said on Thursday that they would launch nationwide protests if India’s chief election officer does not resign within 48 hours, after a newspaper report said he had been questioned by his deputies over changes to voter lists. Opposition parties have said the lists have been manipulated to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya…
Mumbai: The "cockroach" youth movement in India has vowed to stage nationwide protests unless the chief election officer, Gyanesh Kumar, steps down within 48 hours, following reports that he was questioned by his deputies over alterations to voter lists, according to a Thursday article in the Indian Express. Opposition parties allege these changes are biased in favor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
On Wednesday, the newspaper reported that Kumar had been questioned or expressed concern at least 14 times in the past 10 months regarding the voter list update process initiated last year. The opposition, including the main opposition Congress Party, has responded by announcing marches on all state election offices in India on Friday, demanding Kumar's arrest, removal, and an independent review of all actions during his tenure.
The Election Commission of India maintains that disagreements among commissioners are routine and that all actions are lawful. The main opposition party's youth group, the Cockroach Janta Party, has recently staged successful demonstrations that led to the resignation of Modi's education minister over exam leaks. The Commission stated that differing views are normal in any institution and are part of the decision-making process.
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