Opposition parties petition Supreme Court over voter roll purge in India
Opposition lawmakers and supporters filed a petition in New Delhi's Supreme Court, alleging that the removal of over 130 million names from voter lists is politically biased and demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner.
Opposition parties and thousands of supporters marched to the Supreme Court in New Delhi on Monday, submitting a petition that challenges the recent nationwide revision of voter lists. The petition alleges irregularities in the removal of more than 130 million names and calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest follows a series of demonstrations led by a youth movement that began after election authorities started the revision process last year. Authorities say the cleanup is intended to eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, while critics argue it could disenfranchise eligible voters and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "We will not back down," emphasizing the opposition's resolve to contest the changes. Gandhi and other leaders rode through the crowd in an open bus, displaying a copy of the Constitution.
Police closed six metro stations ahead of the march and warned of traffic disruptions. Earlier in the week, police detained thousands of activists and journalists and announced that Jantar Mantar would no longer be a designated venue for rallies, designating three alternative sites instead.