Indian opposition leaders protest in Delhi over voter list revisions

Thousands of opposition supporters marched to the Supreme Court in New Delhi on Monday to demand the resignation of India's election chief. DW and Al Jazeera reported that Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the main opposition Congress party, rallied thousands of protesters during the election demonstration. Al Jazeera noted that demonstrators chanted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi along roads leading to the court. [1][2]

The protests were sparked by a major revision to India's voter rolls, which critics state will cause mass disenfranchisement. The Hindu reported that the opposition INDIA bloc filed a petition in the Supreme Court regarding the voter deletions. According to The Daily Star, police faced accusations of abuses as Delhi prepared for further rallies. DW reported that leaders of the Cockroach movement stated they were detained during a flash protest. [1][2][3][6]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Delhi authorities closed metro stations and deployed thousands of security personnel across central New Delhi ahead of the planned march. Opposition figures previously accused police officers of heavy-handed tactics during weekend demonstrations in the capital city. The Election Commission of India has denied accusations that it manipulated the voter lists. [10][11]

DW reported that Rahul Gandhi plans to host opposition members of parliament for tea following the march on Monday. Security personnel maintained a heavy presence in central New Delhi for a third consecutive day, according to Al Jazeera. [1][2]