Indian police detain 'cockroach' movement leaders demanding election chief stand down
Nearly 150 journalists gathered at the Press Club of India in New Delhi to march in protest against the detention of reporters covering events over the weekend.
Indian police detained leaders of the Cockroach Youth Movement on Tuesday after they infiltrated a historic Delhi site, Jantar Mantar, to demand the resignation of election chief Gyanesh Kumar. The movement, affiliated with the Cockroach Janta Party, has been protesting the revision of voter lists, alleging the changes favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and disproportionately impact minority groups.
Critics claim the deletions remove millions of voters, including those who died, relocated, or were untraceable. The Election Commission denies any bias and offers re-enrollment to affected voters. The BJP accuses opposition parties of destabilizing democracy by questioning electoral processes. CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and Ajinkya Shinde were among 20 individuals who entered the site, waving the national flag and chanting slogans before being apprehended by police.
The protests stem from a clampdown that thwarted a weekend demonstration, resulting in the detention of thousands, including CJP members.
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