India: Can 'cockroaches' threaten Modi's political grip?
Thousands detained, leaders arrested on arrival, and a capital under lockdown: the youth-led protests against the election chief have the attention of the Indian government. But experts say toppling it is another matter.
India's Janata Party, known for its satirical online protests, faced a different level of government resistance during its latest round of demonstrations on October 10 in New Delhi. The party, which began as a joke after Chief Justice Surya Kant referred to unemployed youth as "cockroaches," now demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following the removal of over 130 million names from electoral rolls.
Founders Abhijeet Dipke and his associates were detained upon arrival in the capital, while several others associated with the movement had their homes monitored by police.
The protests come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks 25 years of uninterrupted leadership, a period marked by political challenges. The government's response to the current protests, involving mass security deployments and preemptive actions, suggests a shift from its previous approach. Analysts argue that this could signal a potential future trend of limiting protest activities altogether.
However, sociologist Surinder Singh Jodhka warns that while the protests share similarities with past movements, they remain qualitatively different due to the renewed focus on issues like electoral neutrality and democracy. Despite the government's strengthened institutions, analysts believe sustained discontent could impact Modi's popularity, potentially affecting upcoming state elections.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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