NEW DELHI: India’s opposition parties declared on Wednesday their intention to organize protests aimed at “saving democracy”. This move comes as they ramp up their efforts against the Election Commission following a newspaper report that raised concerns about the integrity of a major voter roll update.
Opposition leaders have accused the head of the Election Commission of India, a body seen as the protector of the nation’s electoral integrity, of operating under influence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, which is known for its Hindu nationalist agenda.
In response to the accusations, the Election Commission has firmly denied any wrongdoing and insists that all decisions made during the voter roll revision process are legally sound. Gyanesh Kumar, the Commission’s chief, has not provided any comments on the matter.
Rahul Gandhi, a prominent figure in the Congress party, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “The main issue is the theft of votes. We will make sure those who have harmed Indian democracy face consequences.” He made these remarks during a meeting with journalists.
According to Mallikarjun Kharge, the head of the Congress party, opposition lawmakers will march to the Election Commission office in New Delhi on Tuesday. They are also planning to conduct “save democracy” rallies across the country in the following days.
Last week, the Indian Express reported that some significant decisions regarding the controversial voter roll revision may have been made without the agreement of two out of the three election commissioners. In response, the Election Commission asserted that the report only reflects a partial view of the situation, affirming that the revision aimed to eliminate duplicate entries and to ensure that “illegal foreign immigrants” are not included on voter lists.
