The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement reported on Thursday that authorities have detained a significant number of its members and supporters across India. The detentions occur as the group prepares for a mass demonstration scheduled for Saturday at Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site in New Delhi, to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Detentions of Cockroach Janta Party members
Ashutosh Ranka, a spokesperson for the movement, stated on X that at least 10,000
people, including members of student organizations, grassroots groups, and political parties, had been detained nationwide. Among those reported to be in police custody is CJP national spokesman Deepak Baliyan. Additionally, the group stated that a contingent of students from Pune traveling to the capital for the rally was intercepted and removed by bus to an unknown location. While official confirmation of the total detention figures remains pending, social media footage showed activists being taken away by police.
https://x.com/abhijeet_dipke/status/2107372361259602422
Tensions Over Electoral Roll Revisions
The planned protest centers on allegations that the Election Commission, led by Kumar, has compromised the integrity of the electoral process. Activists claim the commission is systematically disenfranchising voters who oppose the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through a controversial "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) of voter lists. According to the CJP, the commission has removed more than 130 million names from these rolls.
Objections by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
The Election Commission and the government have rejected these claims, characterizing the revision as a standard administrative procedure intended to eliminate duplicate or ineligible entries. The commission further noted that internal queries regarding the revision process are a routine part of its operations. However, the movement points to an investigative report by The Indian Express, which alleged that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised formal objections 14 times over a 10-month period regarding the poll panel’s decision-making.
Pre-Protest Friction
The climate surrounding the upcoming Saturday rally has been marked by increased police activity. In the days leading up to the protest, CJP leaders, including founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convener Saurav Das, alleged that the government was attempting to suppress the movement through preemptive arrests and legal intimidation.
Notices issued by Chandrapur Superintendent of Police Ayush Nopany
Dipke has criticized these actions, questioning how police could anticipate violence at a demonstration the organizers insist will remain peaceful. "Why not just declare EMERGENCY?" Dipke wrote on X in response to reports of the detentions.
https://x.com/ians_india/status/2107380764967145604
The movement’s call for the Saturday protest followed a series of demonstrations in cities including Bengaluru and Mumbai, where participants held banners reading "Every name counts, Every vote matters." As of Thursday, the CJP maintained its commitment to the march, despite the ongoing police actions.
More on Gyanesh Kumar
https://x.com/ECISVEEP/status/2102678422753517847
