Thousands march to Indian Supreme Court to demand election chief resign

Thousands of opposition supporters converged on Delhi’s Supreme Court on Monday in a “March for Democracy,” demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations that tens of millions of names were improperly removed from electoral rolls, a move they say favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. The protest, organized by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and joined by a coalition of parties and civil‑society groups, featured a bus convoy that carried Gandhi and other leaders through heavily barricaded streets, where demonstrators waved flags, chanted slogans and climbed onto vehicles to address the crowds. Police had already detained thousands of protesters over the preceding weekend, including members of the pressure group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and the authorities maintained a massive security presence, restricting traffic and closing several metro stations to prevent further gatherings.

The core grievance stems from a petition filed by Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, which challenges the Election Commission’s recent voter‑list revision that they claim strips millions of citizens of their voting rights and tilts the electoral playing field toward the BJP. While the Election Commission and the ruling party reject the accusations, the petition has been deemed sub‑judice by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who assured that the matter would be heard “at the earliest possible opportunity, in accordance with the law.” Over the past week, top opposition figures, including Gandhi, have faced brief detentions while leading protests, and the Home Ministry has now barred demonstrations at the traditional Jantar Mantar site, designating three alternative locations pending police permission.

The crackdown extended to journalists, with Reporters Without Borders condemning the detention of at least 16 media workers and describing police actions—such as dragging protesters, slapping detainees and forcing them into buses—as unacceptable. Footage captured by the BBC showed officers physically assaulting demonstrators, including women, while Delhi police declined to comment. BJP President Nitin Nabin accused the opposition and the CJP of attempting to destabilise the country “at the behest of foreign forces,” a claim that was not substantiated. Despite the heavy police response, protest leaders like CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co‑convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka vowed to continue their campaign, seeking new dates for demonstrations and underscoring the broader contest over India’s democratic processes and the legitimacy of its upcoming elections.

⚡ Effects Interpreter