India has deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel in central Delhi and restricted transport in and around the capital ahead of a youth-led protest demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the chief election commissioner. The rally, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), is expected to be significant in a series of near-daily protests regarding a revision of voter lists that critics argue benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Organizers have labeled the event as a protest to 'Save Democracy.'
Authorities have not authorized the rally at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site, citing late requests and previous violations by the CJP. Police have warned that protesters could face a strong enforcement response if they breach the ban. Roads leading to the protest site are blocked with metal barricades, and 57 metro stations were closed starting Friday night. Several long-distance trains were canceled, and mobile internet access was suspended within a 4km (2.5 miles) radius of the protest area until Saturday night, according to the Indian news agency ANI.
India’s Supreme Court stated on Friday that some trains must continue to operate and that a complete closure of metro stations is unlikely. CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke criticized the government's actions, stating, 'The dictator would rather shut down the entire national capital and inconvenience millions of citizens than allow a peaceful protest at a designated protest site.' The CJP claims that at least 10,000 people, including those traveling to Delhi by train, have been detained nationwide.
Neha Bora, national president of the All India Students’ Association, stated, 'You can detain the people, you cannot detain the movement.' Protesters are calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a voter list revision that has removed over 130 million names. The Election Commission asserts that the revision aims to eliminate duplicate and ineligible voters and prevent 'foreign illegal immigrants' from voting. Critics argue that the changes disproportionately impact marginalized and minority communities.
Protests intensified following a report from the Indian Express indicating that Kumar’s deputies had raised concerns about the revisions at least 14 times in the past 10 months. Both the Election Commission and the BJP have denied the allegations, with the BJP accusing the opposition of misleading the public due to their inability to win elections. The CJP, which began as a political satire movement in May after a controversial remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant, has gained significant traction among India's youth. Previous protests led to the resignation of Modi’s education minister over exam paper leaks. The current demonstrations occur ahead of a series of state elections in early 2027, including in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, governed by the BJP.