Berliner Tageblatt - Tens of thousands protest in India's capital against voter roll revision

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 ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Both the BJP and the Election Commission deny the allegations.

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.

Gandhi, who travelled to the venue in an open-top jeep, said protesters were "not prepared to accept" the voter list removals.

"It is the theft of the voice of every single citizen of India," he said during a speech.

"This protest does not belong to any political party. It is India's protest to save the democracy and constitution."

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online youth-led protest movement, has also thrown its weight behind the opposition campaign.

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 the BJP have long alleged that large numbers of undocumented Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh have fraudulently entered India's electoral rolls.

- 'Power of the people' -

Election authorities say the revision was intended to eliminate duplicate, deceased and fraudulent entries, and that eligible voters remain entitled to apply for inclusion on the roll.

Among the protestors on Sunday was 46-year-old Nandita, who said she had been struck off the electoral list despite being a voter since she was 18 years old.

"It's important to be here because of the way things are going... The only option is to take to the streets peacefully," Nandita told AFP, giving only one name.

Health Minister and senior BJP leader Jagat Prakash Nadda called the rally "a meticulously planned drama by those who have been defeated and repeatedly rejected by the people."

"It is a calculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchy," he said.

The Cockroach movement has been heavily involved in the pushback to the voter-roll revision and several of its leaders were temporarily detained by police during protests last month.

The CJP has gained millions of followers on social media since it was launched in May.

Earlier protests organised by the CJP in July over exam irregularities forced the resignation of the education minister, marking a rare climbdown by Modi's administration.

Political analyst Rasheed Kidwai said the turnout at Sunday's protest had given the Congress party a "big push" as it seeks to regain lost ground after repeated electoral setbacks.

"There is not just renewed energy in Rahul Gandhi but also an already greater interest in him. People who were dismissive of him for the longest time are now taking note," he told AFP.

Protester Jayshree Roy said the government will have to listen if people "keep asking for their rights".

"We have to keep showing up in large numbers, that is all that we can do," said the 19-year-old student.

"We have the power of people in our hands. That is all that we have."

O.Krause--BTB