Delhi police block opposition march demanding election chief’s resignation
Thousands of protesters led by Rahul Gandhi marched towards India’s supreme court on Monday to demand chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Police barricades forced demonstrators back, but lawyers said they submitted a petition on Gandhi’s behalf.
theguardian.comIndian opposition figures lead march to police barricades around supreme court
bbc.comIndia 'cockroach' leaders detained after entering barricaded protest site
March meets barricades
Thousands of protesters, led by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi alongside other opposition figures and student groups, marched through Delhi towards the supreme court on Monday to demand chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Police barricades prevented protesters from getting within 600 metres of the court, forcing them to turn back. Several metro stations in central Delhi were closed. Lawyers confirmed they had submitted the petition on Gandhi’s behalf, and the Guardian reported that he reached the court gates by late evening after breaking through the barricades.
Dispute over voter lists
The protests centre on a special intensive revision of electoral rolls that, according to the Guardian, has resulted in more than 130 million names being deleted from voter lists since last year. Opposition parties and civil society groups allege the exercise favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party and disproportionately affects Muslim voters and other minorities.
The election commission denies favouring any party and says voters wrongly removed can re-enrol. The BJP accuses its rivals of undermining democracy by questioning legitimate electoral processes. Before Monday’s march, Gandhi reiterated his allegation that the government was using the commission to cheat in elections.
Restrictions on protests
Monday’s march followed weekend demonstrations organised by the youth-led Cockroach Janta party and student groups. Police detained and released thousands of people over the weekend, including journalists, while extensive security restrictions prevented demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar. The BBC reported that footage showed police forcibly dragging people into buses.
The federal home ministry also removed Jantar Mantar’s designation as a protest venue and identified three alternative locations where demonstrations could take place with permission. The CJP had sought police permission for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar before that decision.
