New Delhi was filled with drums, chants and Indian flags on Sunday as India’s Congress Party and allied centrist and left-wing opposition groups held a large protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
The demonstration appeared to be one of the biggest against Modi since he and his nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party came to power more than a decade ago. Unlike some recent protests, the rally proceeded without violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
Thousands gathered along central New Delhi’s streets, while tens of thousands more assembled inside Ramlila Ground. Opposition leaders focused their criticism on an update to India’s voter registration lists, a process that has so far resulted in more than 130 million names being removed.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party in the lower house of Parliament, accused Modi’s government of committing “treason” against India’s democracy. He also repeated protesters’ demand that the chief elections commissioner, appointed by Modi, resign.
“You have stolen the conscience of India,” Gandhi told the crowd. He said the turnout was intended to send a message to the prime minister and told demonstrators that they had done so.
Sources: The New York Times World.