Indian police detain protesters as fresh Delhi rallies demand election chief’s exit

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - Police in the Indian capital on Friday detained several protesters taking part in a march over the alleged deletion of voters from electoral rolls in the country.

New Delhi has witnessed massive protests following a report last month that two election commissioners had raised concerns with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over decisions related to the revision of voter lists in several states and federal territories. The protesters have demanded Kumar’s resignation.

On Friday, participants in a protest called by the “Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR” carried national flags and banners demanding an end to the electoral roll revision exercise.

The Election Commission has conducted special intensive revision (SIR) exercises of electoral rolls in several states. The opposition alleges that a large number of voters have been removed from the electoral rolls, a charge denied by authorities.

The protesters raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attempted to march to the office of the Election Commission of India.

Local television footage showed Delhi Police personnel detaining protesters. Delhi Police have yet to issue a statement on how many people were detained.

The All India Students’ Association, a left-wing student organization that also joined Friday’s protest, wrote on US social media company X: “We won’t let go of our right to vote and the right to protest for it! Our’s is a democratic country and we will ensure that spirit remains alive!.”

The opposition has alleged that the process has resulted in the removal of a large number of voters. The Election Commission of India, however, has said that all its actions “have been in accordance with laws and instructions of the Commission.”

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused opposition parties and “foreign powers” of attempting to “destabilize the country.”