Indian capital braces for second day of protests against poll chief

New Delhi is facing a second day of protests on Sunday, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of the country's election chief. The court ordered the release of Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, and two other senior leaders, who were detained upon arrival in Delhi on Saturday. Dipke's legal representative stated that they would not breach the peace for a year after their release.

Activist and social media influencer Dhruv Rathee was released past midnight, on condition he refrained from participating in further protests. Over 2,000 people were detained, and thousands of police and paramilitary personnel remained deployed across the city on Sunday. Opposition parties and critics condemned the heavy-handed use of force against the protesters, while a UN body urged authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly.

India's foreign ministry dismissed the UN's approach as "selective" and an "unwarranted interference." The protests are centered around Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who is facing calls for his resignation over a revision of voter lists. Critics claim the changes disproportionately benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been in power for over a decade.

The Commission maintains it has not favored any particular party, but opposition parties allege that Muslim voters and other minorities are disproportionately affected by the deletions. The Cockroach Janta Party, initially an online satire, has evolved into a pressure group calling for an election system reform.