India faces backlash over crackdown on journalists during protests

India: India is the world's largest democracy, currently led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been in power for 12 years. In this news, Indian police are accused of detaining and using force against journalists covering youth-led protests in New Delhi over electoral issues. Gyanesh Kumar: Gyanesh Kumar serves as India's Chief Election Commissioner. He faces calls for resignation from protesters alleging that revisions to voter lists disproportionately affected opposition support. Cockroach Janta Party: The Cockroach Janta Party, also referred to as the cockroach youth movement, is a youth-led group mobilizing young Indians with support from opposition parties. It organized the New Delhi protests demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner over disputed voter list revisions. Press Freedom: Media organizations and rights groups described the detentions and handling of journalists as a blatant attack on press freedom and a tactic to stifle coverage of the protests. Election Dispute: Protesters allege deletions from voter rolls aimed to benefit the ruling party, a claim denied by the Election Commission. Legal Developments: India's top court ruled that police should not impede journalists and lawyers from performing their duties during such events, though some detentions occurred after the order.