India's youth-led Cockroach protests spread as police detain demonstrators
Authorities have jailed two leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party after a banned Delhi protest, and the Supreme Court is weighing a petition over the voter-roll revision.
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What happened
Police across New Delhi and Mumbai have detained thousands of protesters from India's youth-led Cockroach movement, who are demanding the resignation of the election commission chief over a contested voter list revision. Two party leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were remanded to five days of judicial custody after trying to protest at Jantar Mantar, which is no longer an authorized protest site. The Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and others seeking an independent audit of the voter deletions.
Why it matters
Critics say the crackdown is constricting voter freedoms, while the government has defended its curbs.
Timeline
- Oct 14, 9:21 PM ET: Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody after 14 party members allegedly trespassed into Jantar Mantar and obstructed police.
- Oct 14, 11:35 PM ET: The Centre and Delhi Police defended the curbs and their actions during the October 10 protest after the Supreme Court sought their response to a contempt petition.
- Oct 15, 12:54 PM ET: India's envoy to the U.S., Vinay Mohan Kwatra, rejected remarks by U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on the voter-roll purge as unacceptable interference.
Coverage
- ‘Unacceptable interference,’ India’s envoy says after U.S. lawmaker voices ‘deep concern’ over SIR (The Hindu)
- Indian police hold Cockroach Janta Party leaders as protests spread
- Indian diaspora protests in London, Dublin over voter roll revision
- Youth protests seeking election chief's exit grow as India detains activists
- Lawmakers ask Rubio to raise India's protest detentions
- India dismisses UN expert's youth rights report as unverified
- Indian youth protests against election chief persist after Dipke's release
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