Riot vehicles surround Delhi rally site as Indian forces tighten security ahead of opposition protest
Security around rally site
Personnel carrying batons and shields, accompanied by riot control vehicles, gathered around the planned protest venue in Delhi on Sunday. News agency ANI showed dozens of officers outside as announcements urged people to keep traffic moving and cooperate with police.
Delhi traffic police said a “large gathering” was expected and that diversions and other traffic rules would be introduced as needed. Opposition organisers say hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take part in the march.
Protests target election chief
The demonstration is calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over a controversial revision of voter lists. Opposition parties, student organisations and the youth-led Cockroach Janta party have staged near-daily demonstrations since last month.
The protests followed a September report by the Indian Express. It said Kumar’s two deputies had raised internal concerns about voter list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems.
Claims over voter changes
Opposition parties allege that voter deletions disproportionately affect Muslim voters and other minorities, groups they say are unlikely to support the Hindu nationalist ruling party. The poll panel and the BJP reject the allegations that the changes favour the party.
Key points
- Indian security personnel and riot control vehicles gathered at the Delhi protest venue on Sunday.
- The march is expected to draw hundreds of thousands, according to opposition claims.
- Protesters want election chief Gyanesh Kumar to resign over voter list revisions.
- The poll panel and BJP reject allegations that the changes favour the ruling party.