Hundreds Detained in New Delhi Amid Election Roll Protests
On Friday, police in New Delhi arrested hundreds of individuals during a crackdown on protests against the country’s election authorities and their controversial changes to voter rolls. This led Amnesty International to accuse the government of infringing on essential rights in the world’s largest democracy.
Reports indicate that over 700 protesters were taken into custody, including notable figures such as former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Neha Bora, the president of the All India Students’ Association. They were demonstrating outside Jantar Mantar, voicing their concerns against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.
Even journalists covering the protests have faced detentions, hampering their ability to report effectively.
The Cockroach Janta Party, known for its successful protests against last summer’s educational policies, has once again stepped into the spotlight, organizing these demonstrations against the electoral changes.
Police justified the mass detentions by referencing Section 163 of India’s criminal code, which critics argue is often misused to prevent peaceful assemblies under the guise of maintaining public order.
Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India, stated, “The right to protest should not require government approval. It is protected by both the Indian Constitution and international human rights laws.” He further criticized the misuse of Section 163, saying it gives authorities an easy way to block peaceful protests.
Patel emphasized that detaining individuals simply for wanting to protest is a serious violation of their rights to freedom and assembly. He called for the immediate release of those held just for exercising their right to express themselves peacefully.
Changes to India’s electoral rolls have led to over 133 million names being removed from voter lists since the SIR process began last year, representing about 14.1% of the original rolls. Notably, Delhi experienced the highest percentage of removals, with 32.8% of its registered voters taken off the draft list.
While the Election Commission argues that the SIR aims to verify voter eligibility and clean up the rolls, critics warn that such mass deletions risk disenfranchising valid voters, especially those without proper documentation or from marginalized communities.
The situation escalated last month when it was revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi expressed concerns about several decisions related to voter additions and deletions, claiming many of these actions were unauthorized or illegal.
“Millions of voters are at risk of being disenfranchised,” said a protester named Pawan, who works in IT. He remarked on the broader issues at play, pointing out that the demand for Kumar’s resignation stems from concerns over the integrity of the SIR and the processes behind it.
AAP spokesperson Anurag Dhanda, who was among those detained, argued, “We are fighting to protect democracy. People have the right to vote, and we believe Gyanesh Kumar is compromising that right.”
Former Chief Minister Atishi drew parallels between today and the British colonial era, saying, “Gandhiji fought for our voting rights then, and today Kumar is attempting to take them away.”
Atishi reported that police detained many demonstrators as they attempted to reach Jantar Mantar, with some being taken away in buses.
“We won’t back down against the government’s actions,” Atishi said, affirming the need to continue fighting for voting rights.
In a dramatic turn, Bora and other detained protesters were freed from a police bus during the demonstration. After escaping, she issued a call for further protests, encouraging fellow demonstrators to prepare for another gathering at Jantar Mantar on Saturday.
“Rest up after today’s events, so you can join us at 1 pm tomorrow,” she urged, stressing the need for continued pressure on authorities.
Bora emphasized their goal: “We need to ensure Gyanesh Kumar is held accountable. This movement is far from over.”
