Youth movement protests in New Delhi over removal of 130 million voters

On Saturday, India's youth "Cockroach" movement planned to hold fresh protests in New Delhi, escalating a nationwide campaign against a contentious voter list revision that has angered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and election authorities. Thousands of protesters were expected at Jantar Mantar, the city's designated protest site, where police had imposed severe restrictions, including a suspension of mobile internet.

Authorities claimed they had denied the protest permission due to late submission. The demonstration area was cordoned off with metal barricades, and thousands of police personnel were deployed around the area, disrupting travel across the capital. The preparations indicated authorities' intent to quell the fast-growing protest campaign, which had mobilized thousands of young people, garnered opposition support, and heightened scrutiny of Modi.

The protests coincided with a politically sensitive period, months after demonstrations led by the "Cockroach" movement forced Modi's education minister to resign in July over exam paper leaks. Delhi Police detained the movement's founders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka upon their arrival at Delhi airport from Mumbai on Sunday. The police aimed to disrupt the leadership of the peaceful demonstrations before they even reached the protest site.

Protesters, including college student Tanya Negi, expressed their frustration, questioning Modi's fear of India's young people. The voter list dispute centers on India's Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision, which the opposition claims has disenfranchised millions of eligible voters. The revision has removed over 130 million names from voter lists, allegedly disenfranchising those more likely to support opposition parties.

The Election Commission and the government reject allegations of voter manipulation, stating the revision aims to eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries. The dispute has become a rallying point for opposition parties seeking to challenge Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.