India's opposition leader marches with thousands against election chief
Opposition parties and supporters of the so-called "cockroach" youth movement marched towards the country's Supreme Court on Monday, in the latest show of outrage against the recent removal of millions of names from voters lists. Critics say the move is likely to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party – and are demanding India's election chief step down over what they describe as…
Thousands of protesters gathered in New Delhi on Monday to demand the resignation of India's chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, over alleged misconduct during a voter roll revision. The opposition parties and supporters of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party staged the protest despite a strict security clampdown in the heavily guarded capital.
Supporters of the opposition Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi, marched towards the Supreme Court, chanting slogans and waving placards. Critics claim that the large-scale revision of electoral lists could favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The Election Commission of India denied any wrongdoing.
Protesters expressed their discontent, stating that they could no longer tolerate the injustices perpetrated by Modi's government. Rights advocates and critics allege that Modi's administration has undermined democratic freedoms by pressuring journalists, civil society groups, and political opponents. Thousands of security personnel were deployed across central Delhi, erecting metal barricades and closing key metro stations for the third consecutive day.
Opposition figures accused authorities of suppressing dissent through mass detentions, with some parliamentarians alleging that they were manhandled and assaulted by police during the demonstrations. Despite the chaotic weekend, most of those detained, including three top leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, have since been released.
The controversy has drawn attention to the police response and the detention of journalists without press credentials. Jantar Mantar, a prominent protest site in the heart of Delhi, was no longer designated as an official protest area. The leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party reiterated their commitment to continue protests until Kumar's resignation.
They argued that Modi's attempt to close Jantar Mantar would prove futile, as the spirit of resistance transcends any single location.
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- Thousands march in India’s capital demanding election chief’s resignation freemalaysiatoday.com
- Photos: Protests over voter lists escalate in India’s capital aljazeera.com
