India deploys thousands of police ahead of election reform protest

NEW DELHI – Thousands of police were deployed across the Indian capital on Oct 9, a day before planned protests to demand the election commission chief step down over alleged voter-roll irregularities.Demonstrations have erupted since the start of October over the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) “special intensive revision” of electoral rolls, which the commission says is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible voters.Opposition parties and critics allege the exercise could disenfranchise voters to the benefit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).A wave of street protests, including in New Delhi, has attracted key leaders from India’s main opposition Congress Party, including Rahul Gandhi, who was briefly detained during rallies this week.Protesters, including from the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, are calling for mass rallies in New Delhi on Oct 10.Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in Parliament, and other opposition leaders are expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu later on Oct 9 to complain about ECI chief Gyanesh Kumar.The ECI, India’s constitutional body responsible for conducting elections, has rejected allegations of wrongdoing.More than 20,000 police and paramilitary officers have been deployed in the capital ahead of the protest, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.Yellow metal barricades have sprung up across key roads in the city centre, restricting access to the government-designated protest site of Jantar Mantar, AFP reporters saw.Police have not authorised rallies at the site, and ordered the Delhi Metro subway system to close entry and exit gates at some stations from late on Oct 9, according to media reports.“In view of proposed protests and the likelihood of unruly mob movement, Delhi Metro entry/exit gates across 57 stations may be closed from 9pm on Oct 9 till the situation normalises on Oct 10,” a police letter to the metro operator said.The authorities have also cancelled several incoming trains at two key train stations in the city on Oct 10, according to local reports.‘Private militia’The CJP emerged online in May as a satirical political movement, and led protests at Jantar Mantar – which succeeded in a campaign to oust the then education minister.It has called for a “mass mobilisation” in New Delhi on Oct 10, including an intended march to Jantar Mantar.The movement has claimed that its volunteers and supporters were being detained by police ahead of the planned demonstration – allegations police did not respond to.“Delhi police is working like the BJP’s private militia,” CJP activist Saurav Das said in a post on social media.CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke said on social media on Oct 9 that “this intimidation is not going to work, Modi”.“The youth of this country are no longer scared of you,” he added.“I’ll be landing in Delhi tomorrow and will march to Jantar Mantar, come what may.” AFP