What happened
Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed in Delhi as the city prepares for a major protest by the Gen Z-led 'cockroach' movement. The protesters are demanding electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulating voter lists.
The Indian capital has been turned into a fortress, with roads leading to the main protest venue, Jantar Mantar, closed and metro stations shut. The restrictions have caused major disruptions, with traffic diverted and journeys taking longer than usual.
Despite police denying permission for the gathering, the founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, Abhijeet Dipke, has said that the group will march to Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning. The protest is being supported by several opposition parties, farmer organizations, and student groups.
The controversy centers around a revision of the country's electoral rolls, which has removed 130 million names from the voter list. Opposition parties and activists have alleged that many of these are eligible voters and that the process is being manipulated to favor the ruling party.
The past few days have seen an escalation in the opposition's standoff with the Election Commission, with police breaking up protests by opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.
