On November 1st local time, several opposition parties in India launched another wave of large-scale protests, demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Jaswant Kumar, and calling for the defense of ‘Indian democracy’.
According to the Associated Press, the protest organized by the opposition coalition 'INDIA' attracted thousands of demonstrators. Some protesters carried musical instruments and waved various flags, shouting slogans opposing the policies of the Modi government. The coalition was formed in 2023 with the goal of defeating Modi. Several opposition parties within the coalition mobilized key figures from various states to participate in this protest.
The protest was led by Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the main opposition party, the Congress. The demonstrators gathered in Ramli Lalla Square in New Delhi. Last month, the police removed the Jantar Mantar Observatory from the list of officially permitted protest locations. This observatory has long been a major site for protests in India.
According to officials, thousands of police and paramilitary forces were deployed, and extensive surveillance was implemented. More than 200 cameras, drones, and law enforcement recorders were installed at the venue and along the protest route.
According to the BBC, before the rally started, Gandhi said that their protest was aimed at 'the destruction of Indian democracy'. 'We welcome all opposition parties, as well as anyone who is willing to come, regardless of their political background.'
Gandhi said: “Hundreds of millions have been deprived of the right to vote. The people are filled with deep resentment and great pain. We stand together to defend the constitution, to defend the ideals that founded India, and to defend the votes—votes that represent the will of all Indian people.”
The related controversy stemmed from last year when the Indian Election Commission initiated a special centralized revision process (SIR), resulting in the deletion of 130 million voter registration records. Two of the three members of the Indian Election Commission repeatedly opposed several resolutions related to the revision of the voter list by Kumar.
The opposition party believes that this measure has political motives and could deprive more people of their right to vote. It also claims that this measure will have a significant impact on minorities, especially Muslims. The Indian Election Commission and the Modi government deny these accusations, stating that the revision is intended to eliminate duplicate registrations and information that does not meet the requirements.
For several weeks, demanding Kumar's resignation has been a common demand among the supporters of the opposition party. Modi has yet to make any public comments regarding this protest. Some leaders within his party have labeled the demonstrators as “anarchists” and claimed that the protesters are supported by external forces.
