India news: Protests against election chief escalate as Gandhi, Cockroach party allege 'rigged' vote
Police have used tear gas on protests by the opposition Congress party demanding India's election commission head steps down, following a report alleging "rigged" elections. DW has more.
Protests erupted in Delhi on Friday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid allegations of rigging in the election process. Protesters from various groups demanded Kumar's resignation, accusing the Election Commission of stealing votes and acting against democracy. The controversy deepened after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to electoral roll decisions and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, allegedly without the Commissioners' knowledge.
The Election Commission dismissed these claims, stating that differences were part of normal decision-making. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party threatened a nationwide agitation if Kumar did not resign, and left-wing student group AISA joined the protest. Some activists were detained by police while attempting to enter the protest site, which was heavily barricaded by Delhi Police.
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