Delhi authorities shut six metro stations on Monday and cautioned of traffic disruptions, as opposition groups prepared to march to the Supreme Court against a contentious voter-list revision that has caused days of unrest in the capital.
Opposition parties and backers of the “cockroach” youth movement have protested almost daily this month, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the revision, which critics say benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The revision, begun last year, removed more than 130 million names from voter rolls—more than Japan’s population—including deceased, relocated and untraceable voters.
Over the weekend, Delhi police detained demonstrators, among them leaders of the “Cockroach Janta Party” , after supporters of the youth movement tried to march and were blocked by thousands of security officers who sealed off central Delhi.
The Election Commission has denied favoring any party and said those wrongly removed can re-register. The BJP has accused its opponents of undermining Indian democracy by improperly challenging legitimate election procedures.
Six metro stations were closed Monday for “security reasons,” and police imposed traffic restrictions and diversions along more than 20 routes.
The main opposition Congress party said it would march to the Supreme Court to submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice, demanding an end to what it calls “vote theft” and Kumar’s resignation.
