Two leaders of India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) were remanded in custody for five days starting October 14, as authorities intensified measures to suppress protests against the country’s chief election commissioner. Ashutosh Ranka, 30, and Saurav Das, 27, were detained by Delhi Police following their entry into Jantar Mantar, a historic protest site in the heart of New Delhi, which had been sealed off and removed from the list of designated protest venues by police earlier in the week.
The pair had reportedly jumped security barricades on October 13 to wave the national flag and chant slogans demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the election chief appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Cockroach Janta Party and various opposition groups accuse the Election Commission of manipulating voter rolls to favor Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the ongoing revision of the electoral list, which has removed over 130 million names, disproportionately impacts minorities, particularly Muslims. Authorities and the Commission deny any wrongdoing, asserting the revision aims to remove duplicate, deceased, or fraudulent entries.
Delhi Police charged Ranka and Das with disturbing public peace, criminal trespass, and violating bail conditions stemming from previous detentions. Police also cited their alleged efforts to encourage similar protests through social media. Following their arrest, the detainees could face an extension of detention, bail, or release after the five-day remand period.
The protests have drawn support from opposition politicians, including Rahul Gandhi of the Congress Party, who condemned the detentions and described peaceful flag-waving at Jantar Mantar as not criminal. Gandhi called for unity among various protesters, stating that "all protests are one" and condemning efforts to suppress dissent. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke praised the jailed leaders for their defiance and criticized the government for imposing what he described as an unofficial state of emergency by arresting protesters.
Human rights organizations have expressed concern over the government’s crackdown. Human Rights Watch urged the Modi administration to respect citizens' right to peaceful protest and engage openly with protesters on electoral fairness. Meanwhile, some protesters have reported police brutality during detention, including physical assault.
Journalists have also faced pressure amid the unrest. On October 13, reporters in New Delhi held a march denouncing the detention of press members covering demonstrations. The Press Club of India condemned attacks on journalists and emphasized the importance of press freedom.
The ruling BJP and Home Minister Amit Shah have dismissed the protests as isolated incidents, accusing opposition figures like Gandhi of protecting undocumented migrants allegedly enrolling fraudulently on voter lists. Shah predicted a decisive electoral victory for the government in the upcoming general election scheduled for 2029.
The ongoing dispute highlights deep divisions over electoral integrity and political freedoms in India, reflecting broader concerns about press freedom, minority rights, and democratic processes under Modi’s government.