From BBC News · · 2m
India's opposition marches on Supreme Court over election fraud claims
Opposition parties demand the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, alleging voter roll manipulation to benefit Prime Minister Modi's BJP.
In brief
Opposition parties demand the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, alleging voter roll manipulation to benefit Prime Minister Modi's BJP. India's opposition parties marched to the Supreme Court demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged voter fraud benefiting the…
Opposition demands election chief's resignation
India's opposition parties are marching to the Supreme Court in Delhi to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter fraud.
The fraud allegation
Opposition parties allege that under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, India's voter rolls are being manipulated to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.
Election Commission and BJP deny charges
Both the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party have rejected the opposition's allegations of voter roll manipulation.
Chief Justice declines opposition meeting
Chief Justice Surya Kant told reporters he declined a meeting with opposition lawmakers, citing certain reasons he did not provide.He said the court would hear their concerns and grant whatever is due under the law.
“Every Indian citizen has the right to approach the court, and we will hear their concerns and grant whatever is due under the law.”
Rahul Gandhi calls for mass march
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi called all opposition parties, civil society groups and those who believe in democracy to join Monday's march to the Supreme Court.
Heavy security and thousands detained
Authorities deployed thousands of security forces and barricaded roads in Delhi. Over the weekend, police detained and released thousands of people, including several journalists, during Cockroach Janata Party protests.
Violence against detained protesters reported
Videos and photos from weekend protests show police dragging people, including women, by force and pushing them into buses. The BBC captured visuals of a policeman slapping a detained protester inside a bus.
Press freedom concerns raised
Reporters Without Borders condemned the detention of at least sixteen Indian journalists, saying covering events of public interest is not a crime and the police's actions against the press are unacceptable.
“Covering events of public interest is not a crime. It is their job. The police's actions against the press are unacceptable.”
The main idea
India's opposition parties marched to the Supreme Court demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged voter fraud benefiting the ruling BJP, as thousands faced detention during weekend protests.
