The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a youth political group also referred to in reports as the Crocodile Janata Party, held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on October 10, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged irregularities in the election commission. Security was tightened in the capital ahead of the protest, while more than 100 people were detained, internet services were suspended and transport was disrupted.
Protest at Jantar Mantar
The demonstration was announced by CJP, which called for the Chief Election Commissioner to step down. The group’s demand was linked to what it described as irregularities in the election commission. The available account does not identify the specific alleged irregularities or provide further details about the group’s arguments.
Jantar Mantar, in central Delhi, was the location selected for the protest. The youth political group’s announcement set October 10 as the date for the demonstration. The report announcing the protest identified CJP as the organiser and described its plan to demonstrate in the capital.
The group’s name is rendered differently in the available reporting: Cockroach Janata Party in the summary of the event and Crocodile Janata Party in another reference. Both names refer to the youth political group identified as CJP. No further information was provided about its membership, organisational structure or previous activities.
Security measures and disruption
Authorities tightened security in Delhi ahead of the demonstration. More than 100 people were detained during the events surrounding the protest. The available details do not specify where each detention took place, the grounds for detaining individuals, or whether those detained were demonstrators, organisers or others in the area.
Internet services were suspended and transport was disrupted during the period surrounding the protest. The account does not specify the duration or geographic extent of the internet suspension, which transport services were affected, or how long travel disruption continued. It also does not provide details about whether the restrictions were formally linked to the demonstration.
The reported measures formed part of the broader disruption in the capital around the protest, alongside the increased security presence and detentions. The available information does not give a count of demonstrators, describe any clashes or injuries, or state whether the protest continued for a particular length of time.
Demand for resignation
CJP’s central demand was that the Chief Election Commissioner resign over the alleged election commission irregularities. The account does not include a response from the commissioner, the election commission or other government officials. It also does not set out whether the group presented evidence or made further demands at Jantar Mantar.
The demonstration brought together two issues reported in connection with the event: the party’s call for accountability over election commission irregularities and the security and service disruptions in Delhi as the protest took place. Further details about the allegations, official response and outcome of the detentions were not available in the report.
