Indian security personnelcarrying batons and shields and accompanied by riot control vehicles surroundedthe site of a planned opposition protest in Delhi on Sunday that is set todemand the resignation of the country’s election chief over a controversialrevision of voter lists.
Authorities warned of trafficdiversions ahead of the protest march and rally that will be led by Congressparty leader Rahul Gandhi. The opposition says it expects hundreds of thousandsof people to participate in what it says will be a major challenge to PrimeMinister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Opposition parties, studentorganisations and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party have held near-dailydemonstrations since last month demanding that Chief Election CommissionerGyanesh Kumar step down over the voter list revision that critics sayfavour the BJP.
The Election Commission hasdenied favouring any party and said wrongly deleted voters can re-enrol, whilethe BJP has accused rivals of trying to undermine democracy by wronglyquestioning legitimate electoral processes.
Analysts say the youthprotests, and growing support for the opposition, form the worst crisis forModi since he came to power in 2014. But his government remains stable and thenext general election is not due until 2029.
The opposition parties haveannounced they will hold a nearly 1.5 km (1 mile) march on Sunday from CentralDelhi to the Ramlila Maidan, a ground that is the designated site for theirprotest rally.
Visuals from news agency ANI showed riot controlvehicles and dozens of security personnel armed with batons and shields outsidethe rally venue, where announcements were being made urging people to ensuresmooth traffic movement and cooperate with police officials.
Delhi Traffic Police said “alarge gathering” was expected at the venue, and traffic regulations anddiversions would be implemented “as required”.
“People have started coming toparticipate in this rally...we have ensured proper arrangements at the venue, andarrangements are also planned on the route of the march that will happen in afew hours from now,” senior police officer Rohit Rajbir told ANI.
The protests demanding Kumar’sresignation erupted after The Indian Express newspaper reported in September that his two deputies hadraised several concerns internally about voter list revisions, registrationprocedures, and digital systems.
The change, which began lastyear, removed over 130 million names - more than the population of Japan - from voterlists, including 28 million who died, 63 million who relocated, and 30 millionwho could not be traced.
Opposition parties allege thedeletions disproportionately affect Muslim voters and other minorities, who areunlikely to support the Hindu nationalist ruling party — allegations the pollpanel and BJP reject.
