Hundreds of protesters have been detained in Delhi during the latest demonstration by the Gen‑Z‑led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) calling for electoral reforms.
The CJP, which emerged after Chief Justice Surya Kant likened jobless youth to “cockroaches”, began in May with founder Abhijeet Dipke’s viral post on X asking, “What if all cockroaches come together?” The movement grew as students and activists demanded reforms in education and electoral processes.
Police barred the protest at the historic Jantar Mantar site, deploying tens of thousands of officers and blocking major roads. Thousands of banners were pulled down and buses filled with detained activists were taken away in police vehicles, as shown in the accompanying Reuters footage.
Dipke and two other leaders were arrested on a flight from Mumbai. Delhi Police said the men were taken to an undisclosed location; no comment has been released from the force.
The CJP also demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who is overseeing a nationwide voter‑roll update. The Commission says the exercise is routine to remove dead, duplicate or ineligible voters, but opposition parties allege the updates favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Student activist Neha Bora, detained alongside Dipke, urged demonstrators to “hold the line.” Another protester, Sabika Muzaffar, told BBC she expected to be detained and was taken away after speaking with reporters.
Transport snarls followed: several trains to and from major Delhi stations were cancelled, dozens of metro stations stayed closed, and buses packed with detained protestors were seen driving away from the planned site.
The CJP’s crackdown comes weeks before crucial state elections, heightening tensions between youth activists, opposition parties and the electoral establishment. Whether the protest will resume remains uncertain as authorities maintain tight control over public assembly in the capital.
