Protests Erupt in India, Sparking Solidarity Event in Vancouver
Pablo Khan, a resident of Mumbai, shared a distressing experience regarding his family during recent protests in New Delhi. His brother and sister were taken by police while they demonstrated against alleged electoral fraud in the country. Just a day after their detention, Khan joined about 50 people in Vancouver to support those protesting back in India and to advocate for the right to peaceful demonstration.
“They were just talking to reporters like I am now when they were picked up and thrown onto a bus,” Khan recounted. Although his siblings were released eventually, Khan mentioned they felt uneasy with police following them home.
The rise in protests coincided with Delhi police detaining around 2,400 individuals just the day prior. According to police sources who spoke to Reuters, most of these demonstrators were released the same evening, but more were detained on Sunday as protests continued across the city.
What’s Behind the Protests?
The unrest in India stems from growing calls for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the chief election commissioner. Protesters are upset after a review of voter lists led to the removal of roughly 130 million names from the electoral rolls.
Khan expressed his reason for protesting in Vancouver, stating, “I am here to stand up for democracy.” He described New Delhi as being heavily fortified with police officers who were randomly detaining individuals from the streets.
Event organizers in Vancouver noted that during the protests, many police were deployed in the Indian capital, transit systems were shut down, and parts of the city experienced internet outages, contributing to widespread fear among the population.
Zahara Czar, a co-organizer of the Vancouver rally, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that “the world is watching” and expressing hope that Canada will take a stand against the actions of the Indian government. She described the chaotic scene, stating, “Protesters were being harassed and pulled away from the crowds.”
While many people have voiced concerns over the mass detentions, India’s Election Commission has refuted claims of wrongdoing, explaining that the removals were due to voters who had moved, could not be located, or had passed away. The commission assures that eligible voters mistakenly removed from the rolls can register again. However, opposition parties argue that these actions serve to disadvantage voters who could oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Concerns About Human Rights
The UN Human Rights Office recently urged the Indian government to respect peaceful assembly and insisted on the immediate release of those wrongfully detained. UN spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan stated that any limitations on peaceful protests must be justified and measured.
Back in Vancouver, Czar expressed her fears about the situation in New Delhi, stating, “I can’t imagine walking those streets today.” She concluded, “We are very scared for our democracy.”
