ISLAMABAD: Police detained India’s “Cockroach” movement founder Abhijeet Dipke and some supporters on Friday, before a protest he had called in central Delhi. The rally was the latest to demand the resignation of India’s election chief.
The youth-led “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), opposition groups, and student organizations have held almost daily protests this month. They want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over changes to voter lists. Critics say the changes help Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
More than 130 million voters were removed from the lists during the review. The Election Commission denies helping any party and says people removed by mistake can register again. The BJP says its opponents are trying to weaken democracy by questioning valid election processes.
Dipke called Friday’s protest to support two CJP leaders who were jailed for five days this week. They had protested at a site where protests are not allowed.
The group and left-wing student organizations asked supporters to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place, a busy shopping and food area in New Delhi, on Friday evening. They planned to wave and raise the national flag.
A live video on CJP’s Instagram account showed Dipke leaving a house and walking toward the street. Police officers stopped him. After a short argument, they put him in a police car and drove away.
“We are detaining you right now,” a police officer could be heard telling Dipke. “I have not broken any law right now…how can you detain me?” Dipke asked as officers took him away.
“Abhijeet is detained by Delhi Police,” CJP posted on X. “This government is so scared of young people waving the national flag.”
Student activist Neha Bora, a well-known face of the protests, was also detained as she tried to reach Connaught Place with dozens of supporters, local media reported.
Earlier on Friday, police met Dipke and warned him not to go ahead with the protest. Security was increased, and city officials closed the park.
Senior police officer Sachin Sharma told that Dipke was given a notice telling him to obey the law and explaining what could happen if he broke it.
TV images showed dozens of people arriving at Connaught Place under heavy security. Some were waving small national flags.
Small protests were also held in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Student groups held a protest in Patna, where people waved their group flags and pushed against police barriers.
The Cockroach movement has become one of the biggest political challenges for Modi and his BJP during his 12 years in power.
A sit-in by its supporters that lasted several weeks earlier this year led to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over leaked exam papers.
The latest protests began after the Indian Express newspaper reported that Kumar’s two deputies had raised concerns inside the office about voter list changes, registration rules, and computer systems.
The Election Commission said the 130 million names removed from voter lists since last year included 28 million people who had died, 63 million who had moved, and 30 million who could not be found. The number is greater than Japan’s population.
Opposition parties say the removals unfairly affect Muslims and other minorities, who are less likely to support the Hindu nationalist ruling party. The Election Commission and BJP deny this.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the protests were the main opposition Congress party’s attempt to “take power.”
“Instead of using young people’s energy to build the nation, they are being used as tools in the politics of disorder,” he said at a media briefing on Friday.
Reported By: Our Correspondent
