Thousands protest in India's capital against voter roll revision

Thousands joined a protest led by opposition politicians in India’s capital on Sunday, renewing demands for the country’s election chief to resign over an overhaul of voter lists they say unfairly benefits the ruling party. The nationwide revision of electoral rolls has sparked political disputes and street protests in the world’s largest democracy over the last month. The Election Commission says the initiative is necessary to ensure accurate voter lists, but the opposition claims it is being manipulated to favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both the Election Commission and the BJP deny the accusations. On Sunday, protesters led by opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi chanted “vote thief, leave your seat” and beat drums while marching from central parts of New Delhi to Ramlila Maidan, a large outdoor venue.

“I have been a voter since I was 18 and now I find myself struck off the list,” protester Nandita, 46, told AFP , giving only one name. “It’s important to be here because of the way things are going. The cost of living is going up… The only option is to take to the streets peacefully. ” The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online youth-led protest movement, has also thrown its weight behind the campaign against the voter-roll revision. The overhaul of India’s voter rolls has resulted in more than 133 million names being removed from electoral lists, according to figures reported by Indian media and cited by opposition parties in court filings. Critics say the removals have disproportionately affected minorities, particularly Muslims . Members of Hindu-nationalist BJP have long alleged that large numbers of undocumented Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh have fraudulently entered India’s electoral rolls. Election…