Protesters Say India’s Democracy Is “Rotten” as Modi Gov’t Purges Voter Rolls, Arrests Thousands

Key Points:

• Tens of thousands of protesters, led by the youth-driven Cockroach movement and opposition leaders, are demonstrating in India against the deletion of 130 million names from voter rolls, which disproportionately affects Muslims and is seen as benefiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP party.
• Protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an overhaul of the electoral system, with a major march led by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi heading to the Supreme Court, which has so far refused to intervene.
• The Modi government imposed a lockdown on New Delhi ahead of the protests, deploying tens of thousands of security forces, detaining over 7,000 people including journalists and protest leaders, and restricting internet access, actions condemned by the UN but rejected by India as interference.
• Independent journalists and witnesses report heavy-handed police tactics including illegal detentions, mistreatment of women protesters, and attempts to suppress media coverage, despite Supreme Court orders against unlawful arrests.
• The protests reflect deep frustrations over perceived erosion of democracy in India, with criticism of the Election Commission and Supreme Court for failing to protect voting rights, and indicate growing challenges to Modi’s government amid widespread youth mobilization.