Security was stepped up and police warned of traffic disruptions in the Indian capital Delhi on Friday as the youth-led 'Cockroach Janta Party' called for a rally in the central business district, in its latest protest demanding the resignation of India's election chief, Reuters reported.
The Cockroach Janta Party, opposition groups and student organisations have held almost daily protests this month demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over a revision of voter lists that critics say favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. More than 130 million voters were deleted during the revision, but the Election Commission has denied favouring any party and said wrongly deleted voters can re-enrol. The BJP has accused rivals of trying to undermine democracy by wrongly questioning legitimate electoral processes.
Party founder Abhijeet Dipke called Friday's flag protest in support of two party leaders detained and sent to jail this week for five days for demonstrating at a protest site in violation of a ban. Supporters were urged to gather at Central Park in New Delhi's busy Connaught Place district on Friday evening to wave and hoist the national flag. Delhi Police urged people not to join such assemblies, and the civic authority announced late on Thursday that the park itself would be closed for two days due to administrative reasons.
The Times of India reported that around 6,000 Delhi Police personnel, supported by 200 CAPF companies in shifts, were expected to oversee security arrangements, with traffic restrictions and diversions likely on 21 roads and stretches from 3pm. The gathering, called the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march, was scheduled for 5pm on 16 October.
Traders in the area petitioned the Supreme Court to prevent the protest, which they say would cause severe loss, and demanded compensation for losses suffered during a similar rally planned over the weekend that was foiled by a security crackdown, Reuters reported.