2 hrs ago
Delhi Tightens Security Ahead of Opposition March Over Voter Lists
Opposition lawmakers planned to march to the Election Commission’s office in New Delhi on Tuesday.
They object to a process that changes voter lists.
Some opposition parties say the changes could help Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party.
The Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party deny those accusations.
The opposition also planned to ask President Droupadi Murmu to hear its concerns.
Police and other security personnel put up barricades and guarded the area.
Officials said security had been increased at important places since Friday.
The Election Commission said its members made decisions about the revision unanimously.
India’s Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments about the allegations.
Hundreds of security personnel and barricades were deployed near the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi ahead of Tuesday’s opposition march.
Opposition lawmakers planned to march from Parliament at 11 a.m. and demand the election chief’s resignation over the voter-list revision.
The INDIA bloc also planned for its leaders to meet President Droupadi Murmu to raise concerns about the Special Intensive Revision.
Congress and other opposition parties alleged the revised voter lists benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party; the Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party denied the accusations.
The Election Commission said decisions on the revision were unanimous, while India’s Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments concerning allegations against the poll body.
- Who
- Opposition lawmakers, including members of the INDIA bloc and Congress, and security personnel.
- What
- Opposition parties planned a march to the Election Commission headquarters over the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, with some calling for the election chief’s resignation.
- Where
- New Delhi, including the Election Commission headquarters and the route from Parliament.
- When
- Tuesday, October 6; the march was scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
- Why
- Opposition parties allege irregularities in the voter-list revision and say the changes benefit Narendra Modi and his party; the Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party deny the accusations.
Opposition parties
Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party
Voter-list revision
Opposition parties
Congress and other opposition parties alleged irregularities and said the revised lists benefit Narendra Modi and his party.
Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party
The Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party denied the accusations; the commission said decisions on the exercise were unanimous.
Election chief
Opposition parties
Reuters reported that opposition lawmakers planned to demand the election chief’s resignation.
Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party
The commission maintained that decisions relating to the revision were taken unanimously; Reuters said the election chief had not commented on the issue.
Key facts
- Planned march
- Opposition lawmakers planned to march from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters at 11 a.m.
- Protest demand
- Reuters reported that the march was to demand the election chief’s resignation.
- Issue
- The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- Security
- Hundreds of security personnel and barricades were reported near the Election Commission office; security at key points had been increased since Friday.
- INDIA bloc plan
- The bloc said its leaders would meet President Droupadi Murmu to raise concerns about the SIR exercise.
- Election Commission response
- The commission maintained that decisions relating to the revision were taken unanimously by its three-member body.
- Court action
- India’s Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear arguments seeking intervention over allegations against the poll body and its chief.
Quotes
India’s Supreme Court
The court responding at a hearing on a petition concerning the poll body’s voter drive.
“If “there are decisions against the law … We will take care of it,””
theprint.in
Sources
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