Politics · India · 3 days ago
India’s CJP says thousands of members and supporters have been detained
India’s Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, says authorities have detained at least 10,000 people linked to its demonstrations and allied groups.
The movement and opposition parties are protesting changes to voter lists and want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
They plan a large march at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday, 10 October.
The CJP says students travelling from Pune to the protest were taken away by bus to an unknown location.
More than 130 million names have been removed from voter lists, and millions of people have appealed.
Opposition groups say the removals unfairly affect their supporters, while the government and Election Commission say the review is meant to remove duplicate and ineligible entries.
The claims of mass detention have not been independently verified, and police had not immediately responded to a request for comment.
India’s Cockroach Janta Party says authorities have detained at least 10,000 people ahead of planned anti-government protests.
The party says those detained include members of student groups, grassroots organisations and political parties.
Thousands are expected to march to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday, 10 October.
The protests demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a revision of voter lists.
The opposition alleges the changes unfairly affect its supporters, while the government and Election Commission say the review removes duplicate and ineligible entries.
- Who
- India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) says authorities detained at least 10,000 people, including its members and people from affiliated groups.
- What
- The reported detentions came ahead of planned protests demanding the election chief’s resignation.
- When
- The CJP reported the detentions on Thursday, 8 October 2026. A larger protest is planned for Saturday, 10 October.
- Where
- The detentions were reported across India. The planned march is to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
- Why
- Protesters oppose a voter-list revision and allege it unfairly affects opposition supporters. The government and Election Commission say the review removes duplicate and ineligible entries.
Opposition parties and CJP
Election Commission and government
Voter-list changes
Opposition parties and CJP
The opposition says the removals disproportionately affect its supporters and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.
Election Commission and government
The commission and government deny a political motive and say the revision removes duplicate and ineligible entries.
at least 10,000
Why not just declare EMERGENCY?
I think voting right is the most basic point of democracy … People who actually want to vote, who actually care about the future of India, they are just being (denied) voting rights
being levelled by an irresponsible, anarchist opposition
Rahul Gandhi was briefly detained during protests in New Delhi, according to Al Jazeera.
The CJP reported that at least 10,000 people had been detained across the country.
Thousands of CJP supporters protested in Bengaluru ahead of the planned march.
Thousands are expected to march to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
- Reported detentions
- At least 10,000 people
- Planned protest date
- 10 October 2026
- Planned protest site
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Voter-list removals
- More than 130 million names
- CJP spokesperson
- Ashutosh Ranka
Sources
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