New Delhi (TDI): Two leaders of India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have been ordered to remain in jail for five days after participating in protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to the party.
Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were among around a dozen protesters who crossed barricades on Tuesday and entered the grounds of Jantar Mantar, a historic observatory in central New Delhi that has long served as a venue for demonstrations.
The detentions come amid growing protests by opposition groups and student organizations over revisions to India’s electoral rolls. Critics allege that the changes could disproportionately affect voters less likely to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the Election Commission and the ruling party reject accusations of political bias.
According to lawyer Abhisht Hela, Ranka and Das were sent to prison over alleged violations of a bond that had secured their release following an earlier detention over the weekend.
Read More: Delhi Police Detain CJP Leaders After Protesters Breach Jantar Mantar Barricades
Delhi Police argued that the two leaders had breached the conditions of their release and could repeat the conduct, Hela told reporters. Police had not responded to a request for comment at the time of reporting.
Authorities have also said Jantar Mantar is no longer officially designated as a protest venue, despite its long history as a gathering place for demonstrators.
CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde, who was released on a personal bond, said the party would not be intimidated by the imprisonment of its leaders. “We will put an end to this dictatorial government,” Shinde said, reiterating the party’s opposition to the government.
The CJP has mobilized young supporters around a range of issues in recent months, including government school infrastructure and employment. Earlier this year, a weeks-long sit-in by its supporters at Jantar Mantar reportedly contributed to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation following a controversy over examination paper leaks.
Read More: India Deploys Thousands of Police, Restricts Transport Ahead of Major Protest in Delhi
The latest demonstrations have focused on Kumar and changes to electoral registration procedures. The protests intensified after The Indian Express reported that two deputy election commissioners had raised internal concerns about revisions to voter lists, registration processes and digital systems.
The revisions, which began last year, have removed more than 130 million names from voter lists, according to the report. The figures include approximately 28 million people recorded as deceased, 63 million reported to have relocated and 30 million who could not be traced.
