India in the throes of protests; is the Modi government under pressure?

Bangla Press Desk: The ‘Cockroach’ movement, sparked by the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, has gained new momentum. Initially confined to student organizations and opposition political parties, the movement is now garnering support from actors, writers, academics, social activists, and prominent figures across various sectors. Observers believe this expansion of support is increasing pressure on the central government in Delhi.
A rally called by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Thursday (October 8) drew thousands, signaling widespread public support for the movement. Prominent figures from various fields, including actor Prakash Raj and popular video creator Dhruv Rathee, participated in the gathering.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the capital ahead of a major event scheduled for October 10 at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. According to Indian media reports, preparations are underway to deploy 221 companies of paramilitary forces—comprising approximately 23,000 personnel—for the event. Additional forces are being brought in from Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh, alongside a significant deployment of police personnel.
Security has also been stepped up for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar; although he already enjoyed Z-plus security, additional police have now been deployed outside his residence and the Election Commission’s office.
Protesters argue that these measures demonstrate the movement has moved beyond mere social media-based grievances to become a significant issue in national politics.
The Cockroach Janata Party alleges that the Special Intensive Revision process has led to discrepancies in the electoral rolls, raising fears that the voting rights of many citizens could be compromised.
Speaking at the rally, Dhruv Rathee cited data from various polling stations, alleging that the names of living individuals were removed from the voter list by falsely marking them as deceased or absent.
Actor Prakash Raj echoed similar concerns. According to them, the re-verification process has raised questions regarding the voting rights of ordinary citizens. At the rally, leaders of the 'Cockroach Janata Party' reiterated their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the cancellation of the re-verification drive.
Activity among opposition political parties surrounding the movement has also intensified. Several leaders from the opposition camp, including Congress's Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, have participated in street protests in Delhi over the past few days. Police have detained them on various occasions; Rahul and Priyanka were detained on Wednesday. Fresh restrictions were imposed in parts of the capital on Thursday as well. Delhi Police invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prevent gatherings in the Rajghat area.
Meanwhile, noted author Arundhati Roy has extended her support to the movement. In a recent statement, she remarked that the movement has created an atmosphere where many who had remained silent for a long time are finding the courage to protest again. In her view, discontent is mounting in the country, and the government is feeling the pressure.
It is not just Arundhati Roy; many other prominent citizens—including academics Jayati Ghosh, Tanika Sarkar, and Nivedita Menon; economist Jean Drèze; filmmaker Sanjay Kak; and actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah—have also supported the movement's demands.
Ladakhi environmentalist and educator Sonam Wangchuk has also expressed solidarity with the movement. In addition to participating in earlier programs demanding the Education Minister's resignation, he undertook a prolonged hunger strike. He stated that a new sense of confidence regarding protest has emerged among the youth, and the movement's success has inspired them to organize around even larger demands.
Analysts observe that the issue of voter lists and voting rights is directly linked to the democratic system, unlike issues related merely to education or recruitment. Consequently, if the youth, opposition political forces, civil society, and a significant section of the intelligentsia can unite around this issue, the pressure on the central government could intensify further.
However, the BJP and the Election Commission have rejected the allegations made by the protesters. The Election Commission maintains that the review exercise is aimed at removing the names of deceased, relocated, duplicate, or ineligible voters. The BJP has also dismissed the opposition's allegations as baseless.
Nevertheless, the growing impact of the movement remains a focal point of discussion in political circles. The deployment of a large number of paramilitary forces, the beefing up of security for the Election Commissioner, the detention of opposition leaders, and restrictions on gatherings in various parts of the capital—all indicate that the administration is treating the matter seriously.
All eyes are now on the event scheduled for October 10 at Jantar Mantar. The level of public support the protesters can garner on that day, and the extent of backing from opposition politics, civil society, and prominent figures, could prove to be a crucial test in determining the future course of the movement.
BP/TD