Indian ‘cockroach’ leaders jailed over banned protests

Two leaders of India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) yesterday were remanded in custody for five days, as police increased efforts to clamp down on protests against the nation’s election commission.

CJP activists and opposition parties have defied a security crackdown to demand the resignation of India’s top election commissioner, accusing the poll body of manipulating voter rolls to benefit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.

The commission, which oversees voting in the world’s most populous nation, has denied any wrongdoing.

Saurav Das, chief spokesman of the Cockroach Janta Party, center, looks on as fellow spokesman Ashutosh Ranka, right, shakes hands with Indian Minister of Health J.P. Nadda at a news conference in New Delhi on July 25.

Photo: AP

Delhi Police said CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, 30, and Saurav Das, 27, were taken into custody for their “alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate the law.”

At the end of the five-day remand period, they could have their detention extended, be granted bail or be released.

On Tuesday, the pair jumped security barricades to wave the national flag at Jantar Mantar, a decades-old protest site that police have barred people from using.

“Their alleged attempts to instigate others through social media to engage in similar unlawful activities were also taken into consideration,” police said.

Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi backed the men, who were detained after entering the site.

Jantar Mantar, in the heart of the capital, has been sealed off for days with yellow metal barricades and guarded by security personnel.

Delhi Police on Monday said that they had removed the site from its list of designated protest venues.

“Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime,” Gandhi said on social media, referring to the Indian flag. “Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice.”

The Congress and CJP have protested over the voter roll revision.

Gandhi yesterday said that “all protests are one.”

“Different banners, one cause,” he said.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke praised the men, saying they “knew they could be thrown behind bars,” but went ahead to wave the national flag.

“They’ve shown the entire country that the only way to stand up to a bully like Modi is to never bow down, no matter the consequences,” he said on social media.