Thousands rally in New Delhi to demand resignation of election chief
AgenciesNew DelhiThousands of protesters have taken to the streets in India’s capital, New Delhi, to demand the resignation of the election chief over changes to voter lists that o...
In New Delhi, thousands of protesters gathered on Sunday to demand the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. The opposition parties accuse Kumar of favoring Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through changes to voter lists. These changes reportedly removed over 130 million names, disproportionately impacting Muslims and other minority groups who are less likely to support the BJP's Hindu nationalist agenda.
Leading the demonstration was Indian National Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi. This is the latest in a series of protests that have been ongoing for more than a month, challenging the revision of electoral rolls and the conduct of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Election Commission has denied any bias towards a particular political party, stating that voters whose names were removed may re-register. However, the BJP has accused opposition parties of undermining democracy by questioning the legitimacy of electoral procedures.
Security was heightened before the rally, with hundreds of police, some carrying batons and shields, deployed around the rally site. Riot-control vehicles were also present. The demonstrators, waving Indian and party flags, traveled from central New Delhi towards the historic Ramlila Maidan ground. Opposition leaders rode in an open-top jeep during the march.
Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda dismissed the protest as a "carefully orchestrated drama."
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