Thousands of Indians protest voter list change

Tens of thousands of Indians yesterday joined a protest led by opposition politicians in New Delhi, renewing demands for the country’s election chief to resign over an overhaul of voter lists they say unfairly benefits the ruling party.

The nationwide revision of electoral rolls has sparked political disputes and street protests over the past month.

The Indian Election Commission said the initiative is necessary to ensure accurate voter lists, but the opposition said it is being manipulated to favor Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, center, takes part in a “Save Democracy” march toward Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi yesterday.

Photo: Reuters

The BJP and the commission deny the allegations.

Protesters led by opposition Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi chanted “vote thief, leave your seat” and beat drums while marching from central parts of New Delhi to Ramlila Maidan, a large outdoor venue.

Gandhi said protesters were “not prepared to accept” the voter list removals.

“It is the theft of the voice of every single citizen of India,” he said. “This protest does not belong to any political party. It is India’s protest to save the democracy and constitution.”

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online youth-led protest movement, has also thrown its weight behind the opposition campaign.

The overhaul of India’s voter rolls has resulted in more than 133 million names being removed from electoral lists, according to figures reported by Indian media and cited by opposition parties in court filings.

Critics said the removals have disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Muslims.

Members of the BJP have long alleged that large numbers of undocumented Muslim migrants from neighboring Bangladesh have fraudulently entered India’s electoral rolls.

Election authorities said the revision was intended to eliminate duplicate, deceased and fraudulent entries, and that eligible voters remain entitled to apply for inclusion on the roll.

Minister of Health and Family Welfare and senior BJP leader Jagat Prakash Nadda called the rally “a meticulously planned drama by those who have been defeated and repeatedly rejected by the people.”

“It is a calculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchy,” he said.

Protester Jayshree Roy said the government would have to listen if people “keep asking for their rights.”

“We have to keep showing up in large numbers, that is all that we can do,” the student said. “We have the power of people in our hands. That is all that we have.”