Parts of the Indian capital, Delhi, have been turned into a fortress, with tens of thousands of security forces deployed, as the influential Gen Z-led "cockroach" movement has called for a major protest on Saturday. The protesters are seeking electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulating voters' lists. The Election Commission has denied this and Kumar is yet to comment on the resignation demand.
Police say they have denied permission for the gathering and all roads leading to Jantar Mantar, the main protest venue, have been closed with huge metal barricades. Several trains to Delhi have been cancelled and police have ordered dozens of metro stations shut to prevent protesters from gathering. But Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) - the online satirical movement that is spearheading the protests - has said the CJP will march to Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning "come what may".
"If you want to jail us or even shoot us we are prepared," he added, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X. The CJP's weeks-long protest in the summer seeking education reforms was its first major challenge to Modi's government. The CJP scored a major victory when it forced education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign in July.
The CJP protesters returned to streets last week with a rally in Mumbai city to press for CEC Kumar's resignation. On Thursday, they held a huge rally in the southern city of Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore). Student groups and opposition parties have also protested in the capital over the past few days.
Saturday's protests are being billed as the biggest in recent times as they are also being supported by several opposition parties, farmer organisations and student groups. CJP leaders allege the authorities have been preventing many of their supporters from reaching Delhi. In the capital, more than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed and authorities have appealed to citizens to stay away from protests.
Police official Nupur Prasad told a press conference, external that one of the reasons for denying permission to protest at Jantar Mantar was the "short notice" given by the CJP. "Under current guidelines, an application to organise an event at Jantar Mantar must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date," she said. Also, she added that in the past, the CJP had not followed "lawful directions" given to them.
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