Montreal Protesters Support India Youth Against Democratic Decline
Protesters gathered at Montreal’s Norman Bethune Square on Saturday to demand the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, citing a deteriorating democratic climate and the removal of voters from official rolls.
Activists protest removal of 130 million voters
The protests stem from a series of grievances involving India’s electoral and administrative integrity. Activists point to the removal of more than 130 million voters from registration lists since last year, a move election authorities describe as a necessary effort to purge duplicate and ineligible names. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission have consistently denied allegations of manipulation, maintaining that the process is standard procedure for maintaining accurate voter data.
Beyond electoral lists, the movement gained momentum following repeated paper leaks, administrative errors, and cheating scandals that have plagued the nation’s colleges over the last month. These systemic issues have fueled a sense of disillusionment among India’s youth, leading to increased participation from opposition parties and civil society groups.
The origin of the Cockroach movement
The movement’s name traces back to a May 2026 comment by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who compared Indian youth to cockroaches, accusing them of using social media to attack national institutions without contributing to them. The label was repurposed by protesters as a badge of defiance. Abid Khan, a participant at the Montreal demonstration, told Global News that a simple joke has effectively become a revolution. He described the current atmosphere in India as a “beginning stage of fascism” characterized by fear and the suppression of dissent.
The protest in Montreal drew a diverse crowd, extending beyond the Indian diaspora. Participants expressed concerns that the rise of nationalism is not isolated to India but is a growing global trend. For many attendees, the movement represents a fight for the basic ability to speak out against government policy without fear of retaliation.
Concerns over surveillance and civil rights
Rundranil Raha, who has lived in India since the BJP rose to power in 2014, stated that the inclusive ideology he was taught as a youth has been compromised. Raha expressed concern that the current government is actively dividing the country, noting that women, LGBTQ2 individuals, and religious minorities are experiencing the most significant impact. He characterized the current environment as a “surveillance-heavy” regime that targets those who choose to speak out.
Protester urges human rights conditions for trade agreements
Rahul Varma, a Montreal protester, stated that while he supports advancing the relationship between Canada and India, he believes human rights must be the primary condition of any agreement. He criticized the Canadian government for failing to issue a significant statement against the actions of the Indian state, stating that the lack of public rebuke allows the current activities to continue.
Global Affairs Canada did not provide a comment to Global News regarding the protests or the status of the ongoing trade negotiations before the publication of their report.