Mass protests across India demand electoral chief's removal, hundreds arrested

Demonstrations erupted across India on Monday as opposition parties, student activists and civil society groups took to the streets demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and calling for sweeping electoral reforms. The coordinated protests saw participants in multiple states staging rallies, marches and sit-ins to press their demands for changes to electoral procedures.

Police responded to the demonstrations with lathi charges and mass detentions, with hundreds arrested across various states. The crackdowns drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders, including Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who condemned the police action as an attempt to suppress legitimate dissent.

"Lathi can stop a crowd, but not a question," Gandhi said, questioning the government's approach to handling peaceful protests. He argued that the arrests represented an assault on citizens' democratic rights and freedom of expression.

The demonstrations reflect growing demands from opposition parties and activists for electoral transparency and reforms to the current system. Protesters have called for a rollback of recent changes to electoral procedures, though specific details of the contested measures were not immediately clear.

The widespread nature of the protests indicates significant discontent with the current electoral administration, with organisers vowing to continue their agitation until their demands are met.