New Delhi – On Saturday, Indian police moved to detain a group of demonstrators in the capital after a second day of protests organized by the Gen Z‑driven Cockroach Janta Party and allied opposition groups. The protesters argue that recent changes to voter rolls are designed to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party and have called for the resignation of the head of the Election Commission.
Protest actions and police response
Approximately one hundred participants removed security barricades around the protest site, chanting slogans such as “vote thief, leave the post” and demanding that Election Commission chief Kumar step down. Among those arrested were Independent Member of Parliament Kapil Sibal, All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora, and well‑known political activists Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, according to a Reuters witness.
Police declined to comment on the exact number or identities of those taken into custody. Bora told Reuters, “First they removed people from the voters list and now they are not letting us raise our voice against this. This is not acceptable.” The Election Commission chief has not responded to the demands for his resignation.
Background on the voter‑verification exercise
Critics of the government say a nationwide voter‑verification drive launched last year has resulted in millions of eligible citizens being removed from electoral rolls. The Election Commission, long regarded as a trusted institution, maintains that the exercise is intended to eliminate duplicate, deceased, or otherwise ineligible entries. On Friday, the commission directed officials to re‑register newly eligible voters and to add back those who may have been mistakenly omitted.
Police also reported that on Friday they prevented a separate group of protesters from gathering, transporting them onto buses and shutting down several nearby metro stations as a security precaution. While many of those detained on Friday were released, several individuals were charged with violating orders that ban mass gatherings in Delhi, according to a police source.
Political context
The demonstrations reflect a growing wave of youth‑led activism across India this year, putting unprecedented pressure on Modi, who is now in his twelfth year in office. The protests underscore broader concerns about electoral integrity and the perceived use of administrative tools to consolidate political advantage.
Opposition figures and civil‑society groups continue to monitor the situation, urging the Election Commission to ensure transparency and fairness in the voter‑list revision process. The government, for its part, has defended the exercise as a necessary step to safeguard the credibility of the electoral roll.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
