New Delhi: Authorities in India's capital closed Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday, October 16, ahead of a protest demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a voter roll revision that has triggered allegations of electoral exclusion.
The protest, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), follows demonstrations against changes to electoral lists that critics claim have disproportionately affected minority communities, particularly Muslims.
The Election Commission of India has rejected allegations of wrongdoing, maintaining that the revision was intended to remove duplicate, deceased and fraudulent entries from electoral records.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke called on supporters to gather at Central Park after two members of his organisation were detained for crossing security barricades at Jantar Mantar, where they had attempted to display the Indian national flag.
Police had earlier withdrawn permission to use Jantar Mantar as a designated protest location. Ahead of Friday's demonstration, authorities deployed thousands of security personnel across parts of New Delhi and installed barricades at several intersections.
Municipal authorities announced that Central Park would remain closed for two days, citing administrative reasons. Delhi Police also prohibited public gatherings around Connaught Place, referring to concerns about public order and safety.
Police warned that violations could result in legal action but said selected individuals might be permitted to assemble at an alternative location. Dipke said he intended to continue the protest despite the possibility of arrest.
The demonstrations follow a voter roll revision conducted under the supervision of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to media reports, more than 130 million names have been removed from electoral lists during the exercise.
Opposition groups allege that the removals could prevent eligible citizens from voting and have questioned whether the process favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Election officials have denied these allegations, stating that the revision is necessary to maintain the accuracy of electoral records.
BJP members have previously alleged that undocumented migrants from Bangladesh have been included in India's electoral rolls, a claim that has contributed to the dispute over voter registration.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh rejected the opposition's allegations on Friday, accusing rival parties of attempting to undermine democratic institutions and create unrest.
Speaking at a news conference, Singh argued that the protests were motivated by political objectives rather than electoral reform.
The dispute has increased tensions between opposition organisations, election authorities and the government, with protesters demanding accountability over the revision process.
