Thousands in New Delhi demand election chief's resignation over voter roll purge
Thousands of protesters marched in New Delhi on Monday, led by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a voter roll revision that critics say could favour the ruling BJP. The protest followed weekend detentions and a lockdown, with
Thousands of protesters waving giant India flags and chanting “vote thief” poured onto the streets of New Delhi on Monday to demand the resignation of the country’s election chief, in the latest opposition rally over a contentious voter roll revision.
The march, led by Rahul Gandhi of the opposition Congress party, is part of a series of protests in the capital over a large-scale revision that critics say could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Opposition parties and supporters of the “cockroach” youth movement have called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down. The Election Commission of India has denied any wrongdoing.
“This is bigger than anything,” said protester Anjali, 21, her voice competing with drums, whistles and slogans echoing down a packed stretch of road leading to the Supreme Court. “It is a fight to save the very fabric of the country. It is the duty of every citizen to raise their voice and protest till he (Kumar) resigns.”
The sea of demonstrators marked a dramatic reversal from the weekend, when authorities detained thousands, including journalists, and placed much of the capital under a virtual lockdown to thwart any major rally. Most of those detained have been released. Police have not commented on the detentions. On Monday, police largely stood by as the crowd surged through central Delhi in a colourful procession.
The call to protest came from Gandhi, who urged everyone who “believes in democracy” to join the march regardless of political affiliation. Gandhi travelled briefly in an open bus through the crowd, waving a copy of India’s constitution. Some protesters carried oversized replicas of the constitution’s cover, while others climbed atop parked buses meant to ferry detainees. Along the route, office workers crowded balconies and peered through windows from buildings lining the avenue.
The voter roll revision resulted in more than 133 million names being removed from electoral lists, according to media reports. Critics say the measure has disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Muslims. Election authorities say the move was intended to eliminate duplicate, deceased and fraudulent entries.
Protester Abhay Aryan, 28, said he was happy to join the rally on Monday, two days after he was briefly detained by authorities. “You can see how big the crowd is,” he told AFP. “The government has to listen to the voice of the people.”
