India detains protesters demanding election chief’s resignation
Local media reports say over 100 protesters were detained at demonstrations backed by key opposition parties.
Indian police detained dozens of demonstrators in New Delhi on Saturday, continuing a series of protests that have been demanding the resignation of the country's chief election commissioner. The demonstrations have been supported by several opposition parties, including the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which claims the recent changes to voter rolls favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Police maintained a heavy presence around Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site in the heart of the city, which remained enclosed by barricades. Local media reported that over 100 protesters demanding the removal of Election Commission of India (ECI) chief Gyanesh Kumar had been apprehended. CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke criticized the government's crackdown on peaceful protesters, stating that every attempt to suppress dissent would only strengthen the movement.
He emphasized that dissent is a fundamental democratic right. Delhi police did not comment on the reported arrests but warned against unauthorized gatherings. Anti-government activist Yogendra Yadav questioned the rationale behind denying designated protest sites, highlighting the importance of a democratic space for protest. On Friday, similar protests took place in Mumbai, marking the first significant demonstration by the CJP since their nationwide campaign in July, which contributed to the ousting of an education minister.
Authorities in New Delhi reportedly disabled mobile internet services around protest areas, a move that protesters employed to circumvent the restrictions through the use of alternative messaging apps. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and developer of Bitchat, expressed his disappointment over the removal of Bitchat from Apple's App Store, citing illegal content in India.
Opposition parties have vowed to organize more protests, including a march to the election commission in New Delhi on Tuesday and subsequent rallies nationwide in support of democracy.
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