India
India Sees Nationwide Protests Over Election Commissioner, Safety and Caste Issues
Students, opposition parties and civil society groups across India have staged a series of protests in October, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raising concerns about safety, caste discrimination and electoral integrity. On Mahatma Gandhi’s 157th birth anniversary, supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) marched in Delhi, calling for Kumar’s resignation after accusations that he manipulated voter rolls in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. The demonstrations featured large numbers of students, women and queer activists who shouted slogans and carried placards.\n\nIn Delhi, a 17‑year‑old girl was allegedly gang‑raped in Aastha Kunj Park by men posing as police officers, prompting a wave of protests by young women and queer students demanding better protection and accountability.\n\nIn Mumbai, parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who committed suicide earlier this month, began an indefinite hunger strike demanding the arrest of his teachers and alleging severe caste‑based harassment.\n\nIn Pune, aspirants for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission have taken to the streets demanding the resignation of the commission’s chairman over alleged examination irregularities, lack of transparency and uncertainty about results.\n\nThe protests have led to heightened security measures in central Delhi and parts of Mumbai, with roads to Jantar Mantar blocked and protestors detained. Modi’s government has deployed paramilitary cordons and anti‑riot vehicles to prevent gatherings, while the opposition has called for a return to ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines, arguing that EVMs make vote counting vulnerable to manipulation. Rahul Gandhi has accused Kumar of high treason and warned of consequences if he is removed from office.\n\nThe protests, which have been described as a “million mutinies,” reflect a growing dissatisfaction with the Modi administration’s use of power and a demand for accountability across a range of issues. The opposition plans to organise five large rallies nationwide, and the demonstrations are expected to continue throughout October. The events underscore a shift in public sentiment and a challenge to the government’s perceived invincibility.