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Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called for a fresh march to the nation's Supreme Court Monday.   Issued on: 12/10/2026 - 06:33  Modified: 12/10/2026 - 09:44   (Reading time) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-clock)    3 min Reading time   Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)      By:  (https://www.france24.com/en/author/france-24/) (FRANCE 24) FRANCE 24       (The protests in India were triggered by allegations of misconduct during a nationwide voter roll revision that critics say could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party)  The protests in India were triggered by allegations of misconduct during a nationwide voter roll revision that critics say could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party.        © Sajjad Hussain, AFP    Opposition leaders and journalists (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20261011-india-court-orders-release-of-cockroach-movement-leaders-after-detention) accused police of heavy-handed tactics during weekend demonstrations, as authorities locked down (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/new-delhi/) New Delhi on Monday ahead of a fresh rally against the election chief. Authorities deployed thousands of personnel across central Delhi for a third straight day, erecting heavy metal barricades and closing key metro stations before a march called by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. The protests were triggered by allegations of misconduct during a nationwide voter roll revision that critics say could benefit Prime Minister (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/narendra-modi/) Narendra Modi 's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission of (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/india/) India , which oversees the voting process in the world's most populous nation, has denied wrongdoing. But attention has increasingly shifted to the police response (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20261010-india-s-cockroach-movement-chief-detained-ahead-of-major-protest) after a chaotic weekend in which thousands of protesters, including members of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, were detained, according to local media reports. Most of those detained, including three top leaders of the CJP, have since been released. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260725-indian-education-minister-resigns-after-mass-protests-over-exam-paper-leaks) Indian education minister resigns after mass protests over exam paper leaks  Opposition figures have accused authorities of trying to suppress dissent through mass detentions. Parliamentarian John Brittas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) alleged he was "manhandled, dragged, assaulted" by police during Sunday's demonstrations. "This is not merely an assault on an MP. It is an assault on democratic freedoms and the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/rule-of-law/) rule of law ," Brittas said. Police did not respond to questions on detentions or their actions during a news conference on Sunday. Several journalists covering the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/protest/) protest said they were detained despite prominently displaying their press cards. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said at least 16 journalists were detained during the weekend protests, calling the actions "unacceptable". 'These cowards can do nothing to us' The capital was bracing for a fresh showdown on Monday, with Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, urging supporters to join a march to the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/supreme-court/) Supreme Court to demand an end to "vote theft" and chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. (Leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement have pledged to continue their protests until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar steps down)  Leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement have pledged to continue their protests until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar steps down.        © Sajjad Hussain, AFP    "There is nothing to fear," he said on social media on Sunday. "These cowards can do absolutely nothing to us." Chief Justice Surya Kant, however, declined the meeting request in an email, saying Gandhi and the ​Congress delegation should instead approach the court legally since the issue is already being heard by the court and should be ​addressed through judicial proceedings, a Congress source said. Separately, the CJP said its leaders would meet ​Delhi Police to "demand" a date for a peaceful protest. It has threatened to announce a new protest call if a date is not given within 24 hours. Hundreds of yellow metal barricades were set up on roads leading to central Delhi, while six major metro stations remained shut. The leaders of the CJP, which has millions of social media followers, have pledged to continue their protests until Kumar steps down. The protests have become one of the most significant political challenges of Modi's third term, drawing together opposition parties, student groups and activists angered by the voter roll revision. Election Commission data shows more than 133 million names have been deleted ⁠from electoral rolls during the verification exercise, including 28 million people who had died, 63 million who had relocated and 30 million who could not be traced. Opposition ⁠parties allege Muslim voters ​and other minorities, who are unlikely to support the Hindu nationalist ruling party, are disproportionately affected by the deletions – charges both the poll panel and BJP reject. (FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)     Read next   (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260721-india-opposition-leader-calls-for-modi-to-step-down-as-cockroach-protestors-press-on) (India's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi stands with hands tied as he participates in a sit-in protest outside Modi's residence in New Delhi on July 21, 2026)   (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260721-india-opposition-leader-calls-for-modi-to-step-down-as-cockroach-protestors-press-on) (India's opposition leader calls for Modi to step down as youth-led 'Cockroach' protests press on) India's opposition leader calls for Modi to step down as youth-led 'Cockroach' protests press on    Asia / Pacific   Includes a video  1 min   (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260719-india-bans-march-on-parliament-by-cockroach-activists-risking-a-standoff) (A Cockroach Janta Party supporter at a protest in Mumbai, July 19, 2026, to demand the resignation of India's education minister.)   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