In New Delhi, police briefly detained several opposition lawmakers during a protest calling for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The demonstration was sparked by concerns over controversial changes to voter lists.
Among those arrested was Rahul Gandhi, a prominent figure in the Congress party. He was taken into custody on Tuesday but was released shortly afterward, according to reports from local media and the AFP news agency.
This protest is part of a series of frequent demonstrations that have been taking place since last week, led by various student groups, opposition parties, and a youth movement known as “Cockroach.”
Protesters are targeting Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, accusing his office of tampering with voter registrations to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The election commission serves as a puppet for the government,” stated Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as the march kicked off. In response, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticized Congress leaders, accusing them of trying to create chaos and undermine institutions due to their repeated failures.
During the march, which stretched about 1 km (0.6 miles) from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters, lawmakers carried placards, waved the national flag, and chanted slogans against Kumar.
Last year, India began a Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Bihar, which has since spread to most states and territories administered by the federal government. However, critics highlight that the process demands complex documentation that may be hard to obtain, potentially leaving millions of qualified voters off the lists. Some reports suggest that voter rolls could decrease by up to 30 percent in certain areas.
The Election Commission asserts that the revision aims to eliminate duplicates, deceased individuals, and ineligible voters in order to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. Recently, the Commission instructed its officials to register any eligible voters who were mistakenly left off the electoral rolls.
