Tens of thousands protest in Delhi over election chief's removal of 130 million voter names

Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of the INDIA opposition bloc led tens of thousands of demonstrators through Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday. The crowd gathered to demand the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Participants waved flags and played musical instruments while chanting slogans against the central government's policies.

The protest serves as a renewed push for Kumar's departure. This follows a contentious review of India's voter lists that has removed more than 130 million names since last year. Critics of the process argue it is politically motivated and threatens to disenfranchise millions of citizens. They note the revision has disproportionately affected minority groups, particularly Muslims.

The INDIA alliance, formed in 2023 to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, mobilized cadres from various states for the event. The demonstration marks the latest display of public dissent against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. It comes weeks after police cracked down on protesters in the capital. The gathering also aligns with the rise of the youth-led Cockroach movement, which began as an online satirical campaign this summer.

Police deployed thousands of officers and paramilitary soldiers to secure the venue. Officials stated that surveillance included more than 200 CCTV cameras, drones, and body-worn cameras along the protest route. The location shift to Ramlila Maidan occurred after authorities removed Jantar Mantar, the historic observatory and traditional protest site, from the list of designated demonstration areas last month.

The Election Commission and Modi's administration deny allegations of bias. They maintain the revision aims to remove duplicate and ineligible entries from the rolls. However, human rights groups have raised concerns about the fairness of future elections. Elaine Pearson, the Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the authorities should scrap the process. She stated in a statement that the revision has denied India's most marginalized people their right to vote and access to other government services.

Suresh Sharma, a protester from northern Haryana, told reporters that the country's democratic system requires reform. He argued that democracy is being throttled by current practices. Sharma said the voter roll revision must be scrapped and that Kumar should resign and face arrest.

Prime Minister Modi has not publicly commented on the Sunday protests. Some BJP leaders have dismissed the demonstrators as anarchists. They suggested the protesters are backed by foreign powers, a claim made without offering supporting evidence.