Key facts
- Security was increased in New Delhi for a planned rally by the 'Cockroach Janta Party'.
- The movement demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over voter list revisions.
- Critics allege the revisions favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.
- Central Park in Connaught Place was closed by authorities.
- Traders sought Supreme Court intervention to prevent the protest due to potential financial losses.
Security was heightened in New Delhi on Friday as the 'Cockroach Janta Party' planned a rally in the central business district. The youth-led movement, along with opposition groups and student organizations, has been protesting daily this month, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Critics allege that a revision of voter lists unfairly benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though the Election Commission denies this. The BJP has accused rivals of undermining democracy. The planned protest at Central Park in Connaught Place was met with police warnings and the park's closure for administrative reasons. Traders have petitioned the Supreme Court to prevent the rally, citing potential financial losses. The 'cockroach movement' has become a significant political challenge for Modi's government.