Opposition parties in India have organized protests in New Delhi against a voter list purge that they claim favors Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Thousands of demonstrators marched on Monday, calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to alleged misconduct during the revision of voter rolls.
The protests are part of a broader confrontation with authorities in New Delhi, which has been heavily fortified. Supporters of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party protest movement have been participating in recent demonstrations, defying strict security measures. They demand that the government cease the removal of voters from the rolls.
Reports indicate that over 133 million names have been removed from voter lists since last year, while approximately 969 million individuals are eligible to vote in India's upcoming 2024 elections. Critics argue that this extensive revision of electoral rolls may benefit Modi's ruling party.
The Election Commission of India has denied any allegations of wrongdoing. In response to the protests, authorities have deployed thousands of security personnel in central Delhi for the third consecutive day, setting up heavy metal barricades and closing key metro stations.
The police response has drawn public scrutiny, especially following a weekend in which many protesters, including organizers, were detained, according to local media. Most of those detained, including three leaders of the Cockroach movement, have since been released. Journalists covering the protests reported being detained despite displaying press credentials.
The protests represent a significant political challenge for Modi, uniting opposition parties, student groups, and activists who are opposed to the voter roll revision. Critics assert that the changes have disproportionately impacted minorities, particularly Muslims. Election authorities maintain that the revisions were necessary to eliminate duplicate, deceased, and fraudulent names from the voter lists.