Police in New Delhi have warned the founder of India’s “Cockroach” movement not to go ahead with a planned protest on Friday, local media reported. The warning raises the possibility of a confrontation with the youth-led group, which wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), opposition groups and student organisations have held almost daily protests this month. Critics say a revision of voter lists favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). More than 130 million voters were deleted during the revision, but the Election Commission denies favouring any party and says wrongly removed voters can re-enrol.
Police notice warns against Friday demonstration
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke called the Friday protest to support two CJP leaders who were detained and jailed for five days this week after demonstrating at a protest site in breach of a ban. Supporters and left-wing student groups were urged to gather at Central Park, in the busy Connaught Place shopping and food district of New Delhi, on Friday evening to wave and hoist the national flag.
Dipke said officers visited him and served a notice claiming the group was involved in “unlawful activities and inciting people”. He responded in a statement: “Don’t we even have the freedom to hoist our own tricolour in our own nation?”
According to the notice, prohibitory orders are in force in Connaught Place and no permission had been granted for a rally, a news agency reported, citing police sources. The notice also warned that legal action would follow if Dipke went to the location. Delhi Police did not respond to a request for comment.
Security tightened as traders seek court intervention
Security has been stepped up in the city. Police urged people not to join “such assemblies”, suggesting instead that a small group of selected people could carry the national flag and sing the national anthem at a “suitable place”. The civic authority said the park would be closed for two days “due to administrative reasons”.
Traders in the area have petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the protest, saying it “would cause severe loss”. They are also demanding compensation for losses they say they suffered during a similar rally planned over the weekend, which was foiled by a security crackdown.
Movement challenges Modi and the government’s response
The movement has become one of the biggest political challenges Modi and his BJP have faced in his 12 years in power. A weeks-long sit-in by its supporters earlier this year forced Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over exam paper leaks.
The latest demonstrations erupted after a major Indian newspaper reported that Kumar’s two deputies had raised internal concerns about voter list changes, registration procedures and digital systems. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the protests were the main opposition Congress party’s attempt to “seize power”. Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, he said: “Instead of channelling the energy of the youth toward nation-building, they are being used as pawns in the politics of anarchy.”
