The growing prominence of women in Delhi’s protests signals more than another episode of student unrest or opposition mobilisation. It reflects a widening contest over the space available for democratic dissent in India. Young activists standing alongside veteran political figures suggest that discontent is crossing generational boundaries, making it harder to dismiss demonstrations as the work of a few habitual agitators. Neha Bora, the student activist who has emerged as a prominent face of the agitation, illustrates how political leadership can develop beyond established party structures.

Their appeal rests on ideological conviction and a visible willingness to challenge authority. Ratna Singh, legal head of the Cockroach Janta Party, has similarly drawn attention to police accountability by questioning an attempted detention. Both raise a fundamental democratic question: can citizens challenge those in power without facing arbitrary restrictions? The controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls makes this question particularly consequential. Electoral registration is not merely an administrative exercise.

The credibility of elections depends on transparent procedures, verifiable decisions and safeguards against the........

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