Delhi sealed ahead of youth protest demanding election chief’s resignation

Central Delhi was sealed on Saturday, with thousands of police and paramilitaries on patrol, metro stations shut, mobile internet suspended and markets closed, ahead of a youth protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

The protest, called by the self-styled “Cockroach” youth movement — which began as online satire in mid-May — hopes to draw thousands to Jantar Mantar at 10 a.m. for what organisers bill as a “Save Democracy” demonstration, the biggest since the agitation began last week.

The trigger was an Indian Express report that Kumar’s deputies had questioned and disagreed with him over the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, which saw some 130 million names removed. Opposition parties allege the revision favours the BJP; the Election Commission and the BJP deny the charge.

Delhi Police denied permission for the gathering, citing public safety, and warned that unauthorised assemblies could invite legal action. Internet services were ordered suspended within a 4-km radius of Janpath–Kartavya Path from Friday night until Saturday night.