UN experts urge India to stop 'excessive force' against Election Commission protests
Students and opposition parties want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign after 130 million names were removed from voter lists. India rejects the UN criticism as interference.
At a glance
- Two dozen independent UN human rights experts called on India to stop using excessive force against protesters and to order an impartial investigation.
- Opposition parties and student groups are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the removal of 130 million names from voter lists.
- Protesters say poor, homeless and minority voters, including Muslims, were hit hardest; the Election Commission says it removed duplicate, dead and ineligible voters and that wrongly removed people can appeal.
- India rejects the criticism as interference in its internal affairs; visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the protests a domestic matter.
A group of UN human rights experts has called on India to stop using "excessive force" against protesters demanding the resignation of the country's top election official. Students and opposition parties have been protesting for weeks over the removal of 130 million names from voter lists.
The UN experts' statement
Two dozen independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said:
- demonstrators have been injured, "with some reporting being subjected to ill-treatment";
- police used force, including lathi (baton) charges, against unarmed students at non-violent gatherings, and stopped thousands from joining;
- they were especially concerned by reports of sexual and gender-based abuse during protests and detentions.
They urged India to:
- stop the use of excessive force;
- lift blanket bans on public assemblies;
- stop misusing digital surveillance, including biometrics, and avoid internet shutdowns;
- carry out an impartial investigation.
Earlier this month, the UN human rights office raised concerns about mass detentions linked to the protests.
Why people are protesting
| Target | Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar |
| Demand | His resignation |
| Issue | Revision of voter lists that removed about 130 million names |
| Protesters' claim | Eligible voters — especially poor, homeless and minority citizens, including Muslims — were struck off, helping PM Narendra Modi's BJP |
| Commission's answer | Removed names were duplicates, dead, moved or ineligible; wrongly removed voters can appeal |
| Who is protesting | Opposition parties, student groups and the Cockroach Janta Party |
Protests have taken place in New Delhi, Patna and other cities. In Patna, police scuffled with demonstrators who crossed barricades on October 13. Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party remain in detention after a court extended their custody.
India's response
The government says police acted "strictly in accordance with the law" and has repeatedly rejected UN criticism as interference in India's internal affairs. The BJP and the Election Commission deny any bias.
During his visit to India this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on the protests, saying it was "for the Indian people to decide and navigate", and called the term "UN experts" an "oxymoron".
Background
India, the world's largest democracy, has been revising its electoral rolls through a Special Intensive Revision exercise. Supporters say it cleans up lists filled with duplicate and dead voters; critics say the rules make it hard for poor and migrant citizens to prove eligibility. Earlier this year, mass protests over exam-paper leaks forced India's education minister to resign.
Why it matters
Trust in elections is at the heart of any democracy. With state elections ahead, the dispute over who is on the voter rolls could shape results and deepen tensions between the government and opposition. India's handling of the protests is also being watched by its international partners.
What happens next
Opposition parties say protests will continue until Kumar resigns. Watch for court challenges to the voter-list revision, the appeals process for removed voters, and any response from India to the UN experts.
Questions people are asking
Why are people protesting against India's Election Commission?
Opposition parties and student groups say a revision of voter lists that removed 130 million names favours the ruling BJP and disenfranchised eligible voters. They want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
What did the UN experts say about India?
Two dozen independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council urged India to stop using excessive force, including baton charges on unarmed students, to lift blanket bans on assemblies, avoid internet shutdowns and investigate reported abuses.
How has India responded?
India has rejected such criticism as interference in its internal affairs and says police acted strictly in accordance with the law. The Election Commission says the removed names were duplicates, dead, moved or ineligible voters.
