Meet India's feisty Gen Z protester who is taking on Modi

In October 2026, Indian authorities launched a significant security crackdown in New Delhi to disrupt protests led by the youth 'Cockroach' movement and student activists. The demonstrations targeted the Election Commission's voter list revisions and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with protesters alleging mass disenfranchisement. Police denied protest permits citing late requests and detained thousands of demonstrators, including movement leaders and opposition lawmakers. The movement follows earlier successful protests in July that led to the education minister's resignation. While the government and Election Commission defend the voter list revisions as necessary maintenance, activists and opposition leaders characterize the security response as a threat to democratic dissent.

In October 2026, Indian authorities launched a significant security crackdown in New Delhi to disrupt protests led by the youth 'Cockroach' movement and student activists. The demonstrations targeted the Election Commission's voter list revisions and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with protesters alleging mass disenfranchisement. Police denied protest permits citing late requests and detained thousands of demonstrators, including movement leaders and opposition lawmakers. The movement follows earlier successful protests in July that led to the education minister's resignation. While the government and Election Commission defend the voter list revisions as necessary maintenance, activists and opposition leaders characterize the security response as a threat to democratic dissent.