NEW DELHI: Authorities sealed off parts of central Delhi on Saturday ahead of a youth-led protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, while several metro stations were shut, mobile internet services suspended and markets closed.
The protest, organised by the “Cockroach” youth movement under the slogan “Save Democracy,” centres on a revision of voter lists that critics say favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Organisers hope the demonstration will draw thousands of people. Protests began last week after The Indian Express reported that Kumar’s deputies had questioned and disagreed with him over the revision process, which reportedly resulted in around 130 million names being removed from voter lists.
Opposition parties have repeatedly accused the government of attempting to manipulate voter lists for political advantage. The Election Commission and the BJP have denied the allegations, while Kumar has not publicly commented on the latest report.