Indian opposition protest police action against lawmakers, push for poll chief's resignation

Indian opposition groups staged a third day of protests on Thursday, criticizing the police's handling of Congress party leaders and demanding the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests, organized by opposition parties, student units, and the "Cockroach" youth movement, allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used a revised voter list to gain an unfair advantage, with collusion from Kumar.

The Election Commission and BJP have denied these allegations. The opposition's demonstrations come as a significant challenge to Modi's third term, following similar protests last month that forced the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to exam paper leaks. Rahul Gandhi, a prominent opposition leader, was among those detained by police during the protest in New Delhi.

Protesters held signs reading, "Every name counts, Every vote matters" and "Stop the Murder of Democracy." Khushi Shrivastava, a 22-year-old architecture student, stated that the basic principle of democracy is the right to vote, and those genuinely interested in participating in the democratic process are being denied that right.

Police claimed they used "brute force" to briefly detain Gandhi and other lawmakers, but the police denied any wrongdoing, stating they were adhering to their legal duties. The BJP dismissed the opposition's claims as baseless and without any evidence.