CJP Claims 10,000 Detained Ahead of Major Delhi Protest
Ahead of a major planned protest in India’s capital on Saturday (October 10), the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) claimed that over 10,000 of its leaders, workers, and supporters have been detained nationwide. The party alleged the crackdown is an attempt by authorities to stifle demonstrations against ongoing electoral roll revisions. Police have not immediately commented on the claimed number of detentions.
According to reports by The Guardian and Reuters, the CJP stated that those detained include party members, students, grassroots organizers, and supporters from various political groups. The party also alleged that several students traveling from Pune to join the Delhi demonstration were detained, with their current whereabouts remaining unconfirmed.
The demonstration was organized to oppose India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, opposition factions allege that the voter deletion process disproportionately impacts their supporters.
Political debate has intensified following the omission of over 130 million names from the draft voter list. However, exclusion from the draft list does not automatically result in final disenfranchisement. The Election Commission and the ruling BJP maintained that the revision aims to remove deceased individuals, duplicate entries, and ineligible voters.
Earlier on Wednesday, several opposition lawmakers, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were briefly detained during a similar protest against the revisions. While the Congress party accused the police of using excessive force, Delhi Police denied any wrongdoing, and a BJP spokesperson dismissed the opposition’s allegations as baseless.
Originally emerging as a satirical online youth movement, the Cockroach Janta Party has recently gained prominence through active political demonstrations. The group previously drew national attention after leading protests over exam paper leaks that culminated in the resignation of India’s Education Minister.
Security has been heightened and barricades erected around Jantar Mantar in Delhi ahead of Saturday’s demonstration. The claim of over 10,000 detentions could not be independently verified.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters
