Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has increased security measures in New Delhi to prevent protests associated with the Cockroach movement. Heavy police barricades have been set up around Connaught Place, and authorities have begun detaining groups of protesters arriving for planned demonstrations in support of the Cockroach Janta Party, which is calling for the resignation of India's election chief amid a dispute over voter eligibility.
Protesters are demanding reforms and a rollback of a voter revision exercise that has removed 130 million names from the voter list. As a result, nearly 30,000 police personnel have been deployed across the city. The founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, was detained upon arriving at New Delhi airport from Mumbai, where he was reportedly asked to call off the protest due to a government ban. Other leaders of the movement were also detained upon arrival.
On Friday, the government canceled all train services to New Delhi, locked down over 50 metro stations, imposed an internet shutdown, and sent personnel to warn students against participating in the protests. Reports indicate that several students traveling to New Delhi from various states were detained by police, with many placed under house arrest far from the capital.
The Cockroach movement claims that thousands have been detained across India as the government intensifies its crackdown. Despite this, protesters have vowed to continue demonstrating. Current restrictions in the capital have drawn comparisons to the 1975 Emergency, during which civil liberties were suspended.
Dipke stated on social media, "Narendra Modi just made EMERGENCY official. This intimidation is not going to work, Modi. The youth of this country are no longer scared of you." Neha Bora, a protest leader, likened the Modi government to colonial forces and called for mass participation in the protests.
Witnesses reported frustration over the police actions, with some expressing concerns about the suppression of dissent. The ongoing voter list revision has raised alarms about disenfranchisement, particularly among minority and economically disadvantaged groups.
Critics argue that the current voter list practices contradict democratic principles by requiring citizens to prove their voting rights. Reports have surfaced of police intimidation tactics aimed at preventing individuals from joining the protests.
Analysts suggest that Modi's government is facing significant challenges, with public perception of his leadership declining. Modi's recent measures to prevent protests are seen as an attempt to maintain an image of invincibility. As protests continue, observers note that the government's response may further galvanize public dissent.