MUMBAI — Hundreds of people gathered in Mumbai on Friday to launch planned nationwide protests against the alleged removal of millions of citizens from India's electoral register. Police maintained a heavy presence at the assembly, which proceeded despite authorities denying permission for the protest at Shivaji Park.
The Cockroach Janta Party, a youth-led movement that began as online satire, is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The group plans further protests in Delhi, Goa, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
Kumar's position became contentious after an Indian Express report detailed alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision process, designed to revise India's electoral register under his oversight. The process has resulted in the deletion of tens of millions of individuals from voter rolls, with many citizens challenging their removal.
Opposition politicians and civil society groups claim the SIR is part of a broader effort to manipulate India's electoral system to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The controversy has placed rare scrutiny on India's Election Commission, previously regarded as highly trusted.
The Cockroach movement emerged as an unexpected challenge to the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The group previously organized weeks of protests in Delhi that led to the education minister's resignation in July. After that, the movement declared it would continue as a "pressure group" to hold the government accountable on education and democracy.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke issued an ultimatum last week after revelations about the election commission, stating the movement would resume agitation if Kumar did not resign. At a press conference, Dipke addressed the denial of protest permission. "We are fighting against those in power," he said. "We all remember Mahatma Gandhi, who fought against the Britishers. Did the British ever permit him to agitate?"
Deesha, a 22-year-old student activist, spoke at the Mumbai protest. "Voting is the most basic right of any citizen, but because of the actions of Kumar and the election commission, that right is under attack," she said. She added that millions of people have lost their votes and are no longer recognized as citizens. "This attack on our democracy must stop," she stated, emphasizing Kumar's resignation and reversal of the SIR as critical first steps.
