Shillong: Thousands of protesters swarmed New Delhi on Friday, marching on the Election Commission headquarters to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The massive crowd, composed of farmers, trade unions, students, and Left party members, also called for an immediate end to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Delhi Police detained over 100 demonstrators after they pushed against barricades near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, just a few hundred metres from the Ashoka Road office.
Protesters displayed banners marked Vote Chori and Scrap SIR. Activists climbed trees to wave the national flag as others displayed placards mocking the commission. Organized by the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR, the marchers hailed from Delhi, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. Police eventually cut off the advance, forcing the crowd to hold a People’s Parliament on the street. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita remained in effect, backed by heavy deployments of Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force.
Critics claim the commission is disenfranchising vulnerable populations. "They have deleted millions of votes through SIR. They are denouncing the citizenship of millions who have lived in India for generations, especially minorities like Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis," said Disha of the Progressive Democratic Students Union. Prominent figures including CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat and members from AIDWA, AIDSO, KYS, and SFI joined the ranks.
CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Sandosh Kumar vowed that the pressure would not let up. He stated, "The agitation will continue. Gyanesh Kumar must resign; no one can save him. We will intensify our movement in the coming days." The campaign now involves more than 300 organizations. Demonstrations are scheduled in 88 cities across 18 states through November 1, mobilizing 145 groups to demand the restoration of voting rights and the prosecution of the Chief Election Commissioner.
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