Opposition parties in India marched to the Supreme Court on Monday to protest a nationwide revision of voter lists, submitting a petition to the chief justice alleging electoral irregularities.
Several opposition lawmakers and thousands of supporters took part in the march through New Delhi. The petition alleged irregularities in the revision process, which has removed more than 130 million names from voter rolls since authorities began the exercise last year.
Security personnel in riot gear were deployed to escort workers of the opposition Congress party as they gathered for the march. Ahead of the demonstration, authorities closed six metro stations in the capital and warned of traffic disruptions.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party described the protests as a fight to defend the constitution. "We will not back down," he told reporters in New Delhi. Gandhi briefly rode through the crowd in an open bus, waving a copy of India's Constitution, with thousands of party supporters, student activists and other protesters following behind.
The turnout marked a sharp contrast with the weekend, when authorities detained thousands of people, including leaders of the "Cockroach" youth movement and journalists, and effectively locked down much of the capital to prevent large-scale demonstrations.
Protests led by the "Cockroach" youth movement have intensified since election authorities began the voter list revision. Demonstrators, along with opposition parties, are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Gandhi has also called for accountability from the election chief.
Critics say the revision process is politically motivated and risks disenfranchising eligible voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission have denied allegations of manipulation, saying the removal of names was necessary to eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries.
Modi has not publicly commented on the protests. Leaders of his party have dismissed the demonstrations, with some calling the activists "anarchists."
Meanwhile, New Delhi police announced on Monday that Jantar Mantar, a longtime site of mass protests in the capital, would no longer serve as a designated venue for rallies. Police said three replacement sites had been chosen.
The "Cockroach" movement earlier this year staged a sit-in at Jantar Mantar that lasted for weeks, forcing the resignation of Modi's education minister in July.
