{
  "id": 11446673,
  "title": "‘Cockroaches’ join India protests demanding election chief resign",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/cockroaches-join-india-protests-demanding-election-chief-resign-11446673",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T12:26:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/02/cockroaches-join-india-protests-demanding-election-chief-resign"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In India, protesters demonstrated in New Delhi and Mumbai, with supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party among them, to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Allegations of voter-roll irregularities led to the investigation by The Indian Express last month. The Election Commission of India (ECI), India's constitutional body responsible for elections, denied wrongdoing and Kumar has not commented.\n\nProtesters, including young individuals like 19-year-old Nidhi Sharma, a Delhi University student, expressed their motivation as their future and their right to vote. Kumar and the ECI have not taken any action in response to the allegations. The protests continued in Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in New Delhi, despite the area being sealed off by police barricades. Mobile internet services were also suspended in the area.\n\nOpposition politicians accused the ECI of acting on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Mina Giri, a 38-year-old protester, claimed her name was removed from the voter rolls despite living in Delhi for 15 years and voting in previous elections. Imran, an 18-year-old protester, mentioned his family being left off the list, affecting their access to government benefits. Police detained multiple protesters and subsequently dropped them off at different locations, but many returned to the Jantar Mantar site.\n\nSome opposition parties planned further protests, including a march to the Election Commission in New Delhi and \"Save Democracy\" rallies across the country. Activist Vijeta Dahiya, involved in the previous Cockroach Janta Party campaign against the education minister, stated that no one wishes to protest but is compelled to voice their concerns when the government commits errors. Protesters across India expressed their determination to continue protesting as a matter of their right to vote.",
  "summary": "The protestors are demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-roll irregularities.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "‘Cockroach’ protesters demand India’s election chief resign over voter list changes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/cockroach-protesters-demand-indias-election-chief-resign-over-voter",
        "published": "2026-10-02T12:15:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "‘Cockroaches’ join India protests demanding election chief resign",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/cockroaches-join-india-protests-demanding-election-chief-resign",
        "published": "2026-10-02T12:26:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}