India cracks down on ‘Cockroach’ youth protests as anger intensifies against Modi and election chief

Indian authorities launched a significant security crackdown in New Delhi on Saturday, arresting thousands of protesters and setting up roadblocks to disrupt a major youth-led demonstration. The crackdown focused on the "Cockroach" movement, a youth political force challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration and the country's electoral commission over voter list revisions.

The demonstration's central hub at Jantar Mantar was heavily fortified with anti-riot units, tear gas launchers, and mobile internet shutdowns. Police claimed the rally lacked proper permits, while organizers argued their protest was lawful. Leaders, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, were intercepted upon landing in New Delhi from Mumbai.

The movement condemned the police action, stating it aimed to disrupt peaceful demonstrations. The controversy surrounds the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) program, which has removed over 130 million names from voter rolls, allegedly disenfranchising opposition voters. Despite claims of cleansing voter rolls, opposition parties reject the accusations, maintaining the process targets duplicate and deceased entries.

Critics argue that maintaining accurate electoral rolls is the Commission's constitutional duty, while the ruling government denies voter manipulation allegations. As the movement evolves from online satire to street activism, its ability to sustain pressure against core state institutions remains uncertain as provincial elections approach.