The founder of India's online "cockroach" movement said on Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi was an "embarrassment" to the country, soon after being released from detention.
"Modi, as PM, is an embarrassment to India," Abhijeet Dipke said in a social media post. "Never has this country seen a bigger coward and bully," said the Cockroach Janta Party founder, who was detained on Saturday before planned protests over electoral roll revisions.
Earlier on Sunday, the leaders of India's youth-led online movement were released, their lawyer said, a day after they were detained to thwart a major protest against the election commissioner.
Thousands of protesters were detained before Saturday's planned demonstration in New Delhi, according to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which called on supporters to keep taking to the streets despite strict security measures.
Saturday's rally was meant to be the culmination of weeks of opposition mobilisation following allegations of misconduct during a nationwide voter roll revision, demanding the resignation of the head of the Election Commission of India.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and two other leaders were detained before they could disembark from their flight, after arriving in the capital from Mumbai.
CJP leaders released on conditions
Ratna Singh, the CJP's head lawyer, said in a social media post that Dipke and the others had been released by an executive magistrate's court.
She said they had been released on the condition that they made "no breach of peace for one year".
Dipke, wearing a white shirt, was driven away in a black vehicle soon after walking out of the court, AFP reporters saw.
In a social media post soon after his release, Dipke took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration.
"Modi, as PM, is an embarrassment to India," he said.
Activist and social media influencer Dhruv Rathee, detained from his home, was also released.
Authorities mounted a sweeping security operation across the capital on Saturday, detaining thousands to prevent protesters from gathering at Delhi's Jantar Mantar protest site, the CJP and Indian media reports said.
133 million names removed from voter lists
Election authorities say the revision was aimed at eliminating duplicate, deceased and fraudulent entries. According to media reports, it resulted in more than 133 million names being removed from electoral lists.
Critics say the process has disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Muslims, potentially benefiting Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
India’s Supreme Court was due to hear a petition against the closure of Delhi metro stations and train services after authorities detained protesters from the satirical CJP movement, which has challenged Modi’s government over alleged exam irregularities.
The UN human rights office has called for the immediate and unconditional release of those detained, while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and the CJP have vowed to continue protests despite the crackdown.
