Indian court extends detention of ‘Cockroach’ leaders | Elections News
Indian Court Extends Detention of Activists Amid Ongoing Protests
An Indian court has extended the detention of two leaders from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, as protests against the government continue to escalate. The ruling came on Monday, coinciding with a government crackdown on nearly daily demonstrations.
Ranka and Das were arrested during a protest at Jantar Mantar despite a ban on demonstrations at that site. Their detainment has sparked further protests in New Delhi, including a significant rally last Friday.
The CJP, which has emerged as a powerful voice in the protests, is demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. Critics allege that a recent revision of voter lists has disproportionately benefited the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Last week, Ranka and Das were among 14 activists who breached barricades to enter Jantar Mantar, the day after it was removed from the list of sanctioned protest venues. Following their arrest, the court sentenced them to five days in custody.
Reports on Monday indicated that the Delhi Police requested an extension of their detention for an additional two days to facilitate further questioning, a request that the court granted. The Delhi Police did not respond to inquiries regarding the matter.
“The extension is an absolute mockery of the judicial system,” Ratna Singh, the CJP’s legal head, stated outside the courtroom, noting that the party plans to appeal the decision in a higher court.
The CJP, along with various opposition parties and left-leaning student organizations, has organized a series of protests this month concerning the removal of 130 million names from voter rolls. The Election Commission has defended its actions, stating that the lists included 28 million deceased individuals, 63 million who have moved, and 30 million who could not be located. The Commission also asserted that any erroneously deleted voters may re-enroll.
The BJP accused opposition parties of undermining democracy by questioning the electoral process and the integrity of voter lists.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, student leaders, and numerous supporters were also detained during Friday’s protests, where hundreds gathered in central Delhi to advocate for Ranka and Das.
Despite ongoing arrests and pressure, the CJP remains resolute, having previously compelled the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan earlier this year following a series of protests over exam paper leaks.
