Opposition parties led by Rahul Gandhi, the leader of Congress and the INDIA coalition, will march towards the Supreme Court of India today at 4 PM local time (10:30 UTC). This action is in protest against Gayanesh Kumar, the Election Commissioner of India.
Protests and Arrests
This decision comes a day after reports of widespread arrests of protesters, journalists, and lawyers in Delhi. On Saturday, Delhi police attempted to prevent these protests by blocking routes to the gathering site. As a result, streets were filled with buses that had been deployed to detain protesters, and parts of Delhi were locked down.
Reactions and Support
The "Cockroach Janata" party has also supported this march. Congress had previously attempted to meet with Suryakant, the Chief Justice of India, to raise the issue of alleged vote theft, but this request was met with rejection, and he referred to a matter currently under consideration in the Supreme Court.
Delhi police have also announced that "Jantar Mantar" has been designated as an officially canceled gathering site. On October 2, the "Cockroach Janata" party announced that it would gather at "Jantar Mantar" on October 10 and demand the resignation of Gayanesh Kumar.
Increased Security Measures
Prior to these protests, security measures have been heightened in several areas of Delhi. According to local reports, over 30,000 security personnel have been deployed in Delhi, and internet access has been cut off within a 4-kilometer radius of "Jantar Mantar."
The protests have been sparked by a report indicating that Gayanesh Kumar has made unilateral decisions that have led to the widespread disenfranchisement of voters, actions that many claim are illegal. The opposition coalition INDIA intends to submit a note to the Chief Justice of India and call for attention to this matter.
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