The protests, which have been going on since the end of September against the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India, continued with a mass demonstration held in the capital New Delhi on Sunday, November 1.
Thousands of people came together under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, one of the leading figures of the main opposition Congress Party, to protest the comprehensive changes made in the voter lists.
Opposition parties demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign from his post, arguing that the reorganization of voter registration gave an advantage to the Hindu nationalist People's Party of India (BJP) led by Modi.
Security measures were increased in New Delhi before the demonstrations. While authorities announced that traffic regulations would be made on some routes, hundreds of police were deployed around the historical Ramlila Maidan Square.
Security forces carrying truncheons and shields were accompanied by vehicles that responded to social unrest.
Demonstrators carrying national flags and party banners marched from the city center to the rally area. Opposition leaders attended the march in an open-top vehicle.
RAHUL GANDHI: "THIS IS THE STEALING OF THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE"
Speaking at the rally, Rahul Gandhi stated that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should resign from his post and argued that the resignation would be the first step for the country to get back on the right track.
Reacting to the removal of millions of people from the voter lists, Gandhi claimed that the practice violated the fundamental political rights of citizens.
"This is the theft of the voice of every citizen in India. It is the taking away of every citizen's right to self-expression," Gandhi said.
Describing the practice as a betrayal of the country, Gandhi emphasized that the reliability of the election system must be protected.
At the center of the discussions is the comprehensive update work carried out by the Election Commission of India in voter registration.
In this process, more than 130 million names were removed from voter lists. The number in question also exceeds the total population of Japan.
Opposition parties argue that Muslims and other minority groups are disproportionately affected among those removed from the lists. Arguing that these groups have a lower tendency to vote for the BJP, the opposition claims that the practice is carried out for political purposes.
The Election Commission states that the regulation aims to remove duplicate registrations and people who do not have the right to vote from the lists.
While the Commission rejected the claim that any political party was given an advantage, it announced that people whose registrations were deleted by mistake can re-register as voters.
"FOUR PEOPLE FROM OUR FAMILY WERE REGISTERED"
Reena Mahto, a student organization member of the Congress Party who participated in the protest, said that the voter registration of four members of her family was deleted due to incorrect information.
Stating that his family has been living in Jagdalpur city in Chhattisgarh state for many years, Mahto explained that they were shown as having moved to another place in their records.
“We have been living in the same house for a long time, but now we are suddenly marked as if we have moved out of our own house,” Mahto said.
Emphasizing that the authorities should be held accountable, Mahto stated that he participated in the protest for this reason.
Dinesh Singh, one of the demonstrators, stated that he was not a member of any political party and said that he was on the street for the future of his children.
Singh said, "I am not affiliated with any political party. I am here for a purpose. I want our children to remember that we are fighting for their future."
HARD REACTION FROM THE MODI GOVERNMENT TO THE OPPOSITION
The ruling BJP reacted to the opposition's accusations.
Indian Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda described the demonstration at Ramlila Maidan as "an elaborate political demonstration".
Speaking to ANI news agency, Nadda argued that the protests were not aimed at respecting democracy.
Nadda said, "What happened in Ramlila Maidan today is not a sign of respect for democracy. It is a conspiracy prepared to drag the country into anarchy in the name of democracy."
The BJP leadership accused the opposition of undermining trust in democratic institutions by questioning legitimate election processes.
Protests against the electoral system in India have been continuing since the end of September.
Opposition parties, student organizations and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party movement have been holding almost daily demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protests intensified after the Indian Express newspaper reported that two of Kumar's aides had raised various concerns within the institution regarding the updating of voter lists, registration processes and digital systems.
The opposition calls for the election process to be conducted independently and transparently.
IMPORTANT POLITICAL EXAM FOR MODI SINCE 2014
Controversies over voter lists and increasing street demonstrations by the opposition have increased political pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been in power since 2014.
The protests are considered one of the major political crises that Modi has faced since coming to power.
However, the Modi government maintains its position in the parliament. The next general elections in India are expected to be held in 2029.
