Delhi Changes Protest Sites After Crackdown on CJP Election Demonstrations

The Cockroach Janta Party, a youth movement also described as an online satirical movement, is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll irregularities. Mint reported that its protesters opposed alleged electoral roll malpractices attributed to Kumar.

At the centre of the dispute is a sweeping revision of voter lists. The New York Times reported that thousands of young people tried to gather against that revision. The supplied coverage describes the allegations but does not establish that electoral wrongdoing occurred.

On October 10, police detained protest leaders and large numbers of demonstrators as authorities sought to prevent the Delhi gathering. The Japan Times reported that thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the city.

Reports differ sharply on the first day's detention total. Mint reported more than 7,000 people detained, including opposition figures, while The Guardian subsequently reported more than 2,000 Saturday detentions. The Hindu reported that some people taken away in buses alleged they were not told the grounds for their detention.

On October 11, a New Delhi court ordered the release of three CJP leaders, including founder Abhijeet Dipke, according to their lawyer, the South China Morning Post reported. The movement pledged to keep campaigning, according to France24.

Protests and detentions continued that day. Mint reported around 200 detentions, while the Indian Express reported more than 500 in flash protests. The Supreme Court directed authorities not to curb peaceful protesters or disrupt metro and internet services, according to India News.

By October 12, coverage reported a further change: Jantar Mantar had been removed from Delhi's list of designated protest sites. Scroll.in reported that the police order was issued on Sunday, October 11, citing recommendations from a committee.

Delhi police have designated three alternative protest venues. Business Line named them as Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground. The Hindu reported that detailed, revised procedures for organising protests at the new venues would be issued separately.

CJP leaders have not abandoned their campaign. NDTV India reported that the group vowed nationwide protests and said the released leaders' bonds concerned avoiding a breach of peace, not giving up the right to protest.

The crackdown also faces legal scrutiny. Business Line reported that Delhi police registered 20 FIRs in connection with Sunday's protests, while The Hindu reported concerns about how detentions were carried out.

The next concrete step is publication of the rules for demonstrations at the three replacement venues, which The Hindu reported were still to come. Those rules will define the procedures organisers must follow after Jantar Mantar's removal.

Also pending is how CJP carries out its promised nationwide campaign, reported by NDTV India, and whether further policing follows the Supreme Court's directions on peaceful protesters, transport and internet access, reported by India News.