India’s youth-led CJP movement began in May 2026 after the government canceled medical school entrance exams and Chief Justice Surya Kant compared unemployed young people to cockroaches. The movement achieved an early success in July, when Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. It has since turned its attention to a dispute over voting rights.
Critics say the Election Commission, which manages elections, has removed approximately 130 million names from voter lists. Since October 2, protesters have gathered in Delhi, Mumbai, and other cities. They want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and further removals to stop until an independent investigation takes place. They also demand that the previous voter lists be restored before the next elections. The commission says its changes remove duplicate entries, people who have died, and noncitizens. Critics worry that poor voters may struggle to provide old documents proving their eligibility to vote.
The government has resisted the movement’s demands. Two of its spokespeople, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, were detained during the crackdown on protests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his governing party accuse protesters of weakening democracy. The CJP, by contrast, considers peaceful protest and respect for India’s constitution essential to democratic life.
