Protests over SIR and election chief spread across Indian cities

Protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took place in several Indian states on Sunday.

In Mumbai, Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray and MNS leader Amit Thackeray led demonstrations, and police detained activist Anjali Damania and others.

Police also detained 85 protesters in Pune and seven in Goa; a court hearing in Goa resulted in orders for the seven to be released.

Demonstrations were also held in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, while opposition parties in Kolkata called for fresh elections in West Bengal.

Supporters say SIR should be scrapped and have called for Kumar to resign.

The protests matter because they challenge how voter lists are revised and the leadership of India’s election authority.

Kerala’s assembly is due to consider a resolution on Monday calling for voters excluded through SIR to be restored and for Kumar to be removed.