Zj leaders of India’s youth-led "Cockroach" movement, Asmi Bhatia and Akriti Sharma, were arrested early Wednesday, marking the first such action since protests erupted over a contentious voter-roll overhaul. Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde face charges including trespassing and obstructing public officials after jumping barricades at Jantar Mantar, a historic protest venue recently removed from Delhi’s designated demonstration sites. The trio is expected to appear before a magistrate as legal challenges mount. Opposition blocs, student unions, and farmer coalitions like Samyukt Kisan Morcha demand the halt of the voter-roll revision and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Scrutiny intensified after the *Indian Express* reported objections raised by election commissioners 14 times over 10 months. The Election Commission denies wrongdoing. Delhi police have requested extended armed forces deployment until Oct. 20 amid fears of further unrest.
The protests follow July’s student-led exam irregularity crisis, which led to the education minister’s resignation. Indian equities have slumped, and the rupee is among Asia’s worst-performing currencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended India’s democratic credentials at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum but did not address the protests directly.
المصدر: Bloomberg Markets · لخّصه HeadlinesBriefing