UK Diaspora Groups Protest in London Over India's Electoral Roll Revision
Diaspora organisations and students demonstrated outside India's High Commission in London in solidarity with protests against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, backing calls for electoral reforms and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Diaspora organisations and students staged a protest outside India's High Commission in London on Tuesday evening, expressing solidarity with demonstrations in New Delhi over electoral reforms and the right to protest.
The gathering supported demands raised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), student groups and opposition parties. Protesters called for the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The demonstration, described by organisers as an “Emergency Protest”, was convened by groups including the South Asia Solidarity Group, Cambridge South Asian Forum Against Hindutva, Indian Workers' Association and SOAS Ambedkar Society.
Participants held placards criticising the Election Commission and alleging police brutality and sexual violence against protesters, journalists and lawyers. Speakers urged students and diaspora communities in Britain to support the movement in India.
The protest was part of a wider series of solidarity gatherings across the UK. The Students' Federation of India UK also organised demonstrations in Cardiff, Leeds and Edinburgh during the week.
In India, the CJP, student groups and opposition parties have intensified their protests against the SIR exercise, raising concerns about electoral-roll revisions and demanding Kumar's resignation.
The Election Commission has maintained that the exercise aims to update voter lists by identifying deceased, duplicate, shifted and otherwise ineligible entries.
The London demonstration brought international attention to the dispute, with participants highlighting voting rights, electoral transparency and freedom of protest.
