NEW DELHI, Oct 11, 2026 (Net) – Leaders of India’s online “cockroach” movement pledged on Sunday to continue their campaign against the election commissioner, hours after they were released from detention as authorities sought to thwart a major demonstration.
The protests in the capital come after weeks of opposition mobilisation following allegations of misconduct during a nationwide voter roll revision that critics say could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.
The Election Commission of India, which oversees the voting process in the world’s most populous nation, has denied wrongdoing.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest movement, and two other leaders were released on Sunday, a day after they were detained when they landed in Delhi to take part in the protest.
Thousands of protesters have been detained since Saturday, according to the youth-led group and media reports.
“We will not back down,” CJP co-convenor Saurav Das said at a news conference in Delhi after his release from detention.
“We urge people to come out and carry out peaceful protests,” he added, vowing to continue until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
Smaller rallies also took place in the capital on Sunday with AFP journalists witnessing police detain dozens of protesters.
Police have not commented on the detentions.
In July, protests organised by the CJP over exam irregularities forced the resignation of the education minister, marking a rare climbdown by Modi’s administration.
– ‘Important to show up’ –
Ahead of Saturday’s rally, authorities mounted a sweeping security operation across the capital, shutting down metro stations and more than 200 trains while imposing a ban on public gatherings in several areas.
Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel remained deployed across Delhi on Sunday, but metro stations reopened and previously restricted mobile services were restored.
An AFP reporter witnessed dozens of people detained at three spots near the usual protest site of Jantar Mantar, which remained blocked off.
“I was detained for 10 hours yesterday,” said Aarti, 37, who gave only one name. “I have come again today because it is important to show up.”
The protest leaders were released on the condition that they would maintain “peace for one year”, Ratna Singh, the CJP’s head lawyer, said in a social media post.
The Supreme Court, hearing petitions challenging the detentions and other security measures, directed the authorities on Sunday to ensure protesters gathering peacefully were not detained illegally.
“Detention shall only be after following a legal procedure,” Justice Joymalya Bagchi said in oral remarks.
The court also ordered authorities to ensure there was no disruption to internet connectivity after mobile access was temporarily shut down around the Jantar Mantar site on Saturday.
In a social media post soon after his release, the CJP’s Dipke took aim at Modi, who “as PM, is an embarrassment to India”, he said.
“Never has this country seen a bigger coward and bully.”
The youth movement has emerged as one of the most significant political challenges to Modi during his third term in power, winning millions of followers on social media since it was launched in May as a satirical party.
– ‘Anger’ –
The revision of voter rolls at the centre of the protest campaign resulted in more than 133 million names being removed from electoral lists, according to media reports.
Critics say the revision has disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Muslims, potentially benefiting Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
Election authorities say the revision was aimed at eliminating duplicate, deceased and fraudulent entries.
The detention of protesters on Saturday triggered sharp criticism and accusations that Modi’s government was stifling dissent.
The UN human rights office called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those “arbitrarily detained” in Delhi.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, said he was planning to march to the Supreme Court on Monday with “every single person who believes in democracy”.
“There is nothing to fear,” he said on social media. “These cowards can do absolutely nothing to us.”
