Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse Congress and other opposition protesters in India on Friday. They demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, accusing the election commission of manipulating voter lists to benefit the ruling BJP.
The demonstrations followed an Indian Express report that Kumar’s deputies had questioned him over voter-list changes that opposition groups say benefit the BJP. The Election Commission said differences among officers are normal and its actions lawful; the BJP called the report a smear campaign.
The “cockroach” youth movement, which has millions of supporters, said it would launch protests nationwide on October 2 if Kumar did not resign by Saturday.
