India’s ‘Cockroach’ movement says many members detained ahead of Delhi rally
BENGALURU, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Indian authorities started mass detentions of people associated with the "Cockroach" youth movement, the group said Thursday, just days ahead of a major planned protest in Delhi to demand the resignation of the nation's top poll official.
Indian authorities began mass detentions of individuals linked to the Cockroach youth movement, just a few days before a major protest in Delhi aimed at urging the resignation of the country's top election official. The group alleged that opposition parties, student units, and the Cockroach youth movement have been staging daily demonstrations for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's removal following a controversial voter list revision.
Among those arrested were Deepak Baliyan, a senior member and spokesperson of the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and a group of students from Pune who were traveling to the October 10 rally in Delhi, according to the movement. Protesters shared videos of activists being taken away in vans, but Reuters was unable to independently verify the claims or footage.
The CJP, led by Abhijeet Dipke, accused the government of using a voter list revision to favor its ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and called the situation an "emergency." At least 10,000 people across the country, including from various student organizations, Kisaan and Dalit Sangathans, and other political parties, were detained, according to the group.
Opposition parties and the CJP accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling BJP of fixing the election results through the revision, in collaboration with the Election Commissioner. The protests posed a new political challenge for Modi mid-way through his third term.
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