Youth movement protests in New Delhi over removal of 130 million voters

India’s youth-led 'Cockroach Movement' is set to stage new protests on Saturday in New Delhi, escalating its campaign against a controversial review of voter lists that has sparked widespread debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and election authorities.

The Associated Press reported that thousands of demonstrators are expected to gather at Jantar Mantar in the city center, amid tight security measures that include a shutdown of mobile internet services.

Police on Friday denied permission for the protest, citing a late application, while authorities sealed off the demonstration site with metal barricades and deployed thousands of security personnel in the area.

The agency noted that restrictions on train and metro stations could also hinder protesters from reaching the gathering point.

The protests focus on what the opposition calls an “intensive special review” of voter rolls, which has resulted in the removal of more than 130 million names, according to the report.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of Election Commission chief Gianish Kumar and an immediate halt to the review process, while the commission and government insist the aim is to remove duplicate and ineligible names.

The opposition argues that these measures undermine citizens’ right to vote, while authorities defend them as necessary to clean up electoral rolls.

Heavy security has been deployed across the Indian capital in an effort to contain the growing youth-led protest movement, which has received backing from opposition parties.

The latest demonstrations follow months of previous protests by the movement over leaked exam papers, which led to the resignation of the education minister last July.

The movement has now returned to the streets with a new cause centered on voting rights, amid strict limits on gatherings and communications.