Widespread Protests Over Removal of Millions of Names From India’s Voter Rolls

DID Press: The removal of more than 130 million names from India’s voter rolls has triggered a wave of protests against the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Opponents say the process has unfairly targeted Muslims and other minority groups and benefits the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The names were removed following an order by the Election Commission of India to clean electoral rolls of duplicate voters, deceased individuals and people deemed ineligible. However, opposition parties say requiring citizens to provide documents to retain their voting rights has deprived millions of people of their right to political participation.

Protest March in New Delhi

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress Party, along with hundreds of opposition lawmakers, protested against the process in New Delhi on Tuesday. Demonstrators called for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission chief, the cancellation of the voter-roll review and a return to the use of paper ballots.

Indian police entered the protest site and dispersed the demonstrators. Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were briefly detained. Police said the action was taken to maintain public order and prevent tensions from escalating.

Opposition groups critical of the Modi government accuse the Election Commission chief of conducting the voter-roll review in the interests of the BJP, an allegation rejected by the Modi government and the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, the political movement of the Cockroach Janta Party has also held rallies in Mumbai and New Delhi, calling for the resignation of the Election Commission chief and announcing further nationwide protests on October 10.

Opposition groups also stress that the process has a disproportionate impact on India’s roughly 200 million Muslims.