KABUL (Pajhwok): Thousands of opposition supporters rallied in India’s capital, Delhi, on Sunday, protesting against the government’s revision of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Guardian reported that the Congress-led opposition alliance, INDIA, accused the government of using the revision to gain an electoral advantage, alleging that around 130 million names had been removed from voter lists. The BJP rejected the allegations.
Opposition leaders accused the ruling Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP) of undermining democracy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Kumar of attempting to silence voters and said the opposition would not allow democracy to be weakened.
The rally was among the largest opposition demonstrations in recent years, although attendance fell short of the Congress party’s prediction of one million people.
The controversy intensified following media reports of irregularities in the voter roll revision. Opposition parties have alleged that millions of eligible voters, including members of minority communities, were excluded.
BJP president JP Nadda dismissed the rally as an attempt to create disorder under the pretext of defending democracy.
The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been in power since 2014.
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