Key Takeaways
- Indian police detained several opposition lawmakers in New Delhi.
- The protest was against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over revised voter lists.
- The march aimed to demand Kumar’s resignation amid accusations of bias.
Indian police detained several opposition lawmakers in New Delhi on Tuesday for attempting to breach barricades during a protest march. The marchers, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a controversial revision of voter lists.
The protest, which began with a 1-kilometer march from parliament to the Election Commission headquarters, saw lawmakers carrying placards and waving the national flag. Some carried placards calling Kumar a traitor, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of snatching away the right to vote.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka stood on police barricades, waving the national flag and calling for Kumar’s resignation. Hundreds of security personnel, some in riot gear, tried to prevent Gandhi and other lawmakers from entering the election commission.
The detention of lawmakers comes amid ongoing protests by student organisations, political parties, and the 'cockroach' movement, which began last week. These protests have intensified, with the Supreme Court agreeing to hear requests for intervention in the accusations against the poll body’s voter drive and the conduct of its chief.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused Congress leaders of trying to establish anarchy in the country and attacking institutions. He stated, 'After failing multiple times, Congress leaders have decided to establish anarchy in the country and attack institutions.'
The controversy surrounds allegations that the revised voter lists benefit the Modi government and its party. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has not commented on the issue, but the commission and the BJP denied the accusations.
The marchers, including members of the popular 'cockroach' youth movement, protested against the reported differences in the voter lists and voter registration procedures, which stoked concerns about the neutrality of the commission, led by a Modi government appointee.
The protest is the latest in a series of almost daily demonstrations, with the Supreme Court set to hear the case on Monday. If there are decisions against the law, the court said, 'We will take care of it.'
The election commission is a puppet in the hands of the government.
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President
After failing multiple times, Congress leaders have decided to establish anarchy in the country and attack institutions.
Sambit Patra, BJP spokesperson
