Press release. The following was issued by the South Asian Diaspora Action Collective (SADAC) and CERAS (Centre sur l’Asie du Sud) and is published as received. Canada News Media did not write or edit it.
Media Advisory
Unprecedented Fascist Violence, Intimidation and Terror in Delhi: Solidarity Protest Against Police State
What: Protest
When: Monday October 12, at noon
Where: Norman Bethune Square, metro Guy-Concordia
In the wake of Saturday October 10th, a very dark day for democracy in the so-called largest democracy in the world, India, protestors will be gathering at the symbolic location of Place Norman Bethune to denounce the fascist violence, intimidation, terror and repression in Delhi.
Prime Minister Modi of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) effectively declared war on the people to pre-empt a massive demonstration to protest the disenfranchisement of more than 130 million voters in recent elections and to demand the removal of India’s Chief Election Commissioner.
“The streets of New Delhi and surrounding areas were transformed into a sprawling, hyper-militarised fortress with metal spikes, yellow barricades and concrete barriers on Saturday as the full coercive machinery of the regime turned its wrath on the people, unleashing an unprecedented wave of violence and intimidation on political leaders, journalists, senior lawyers and everyone else.” said India Cable, a newsletter by the independent media outlet in India, The Wire.
Trains coming to New Delhi were cancelled and 57 metro stations were closed from the night to restrict people’s access to the site of protest.
“The most damning indictment of the day, however, was the systemic, targeted assault on the free press. Independent journalists were being treated as enemy combatants by the cops. They were confined to far-off designated spots and threatened with detention if they stepped beyond the arbitrary lines imposed by the Delhi Police. Many reporters, independent content creators and digital influencers were hunted, manhandled and thrown into police vans, despite wearing visible IDs,” wrote India Cable.
Protests erupted across the country following publication of an investigative report [1] about the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) process which was done ostensibly to establish voter eligibility, but which disenfranchised more than 130 million citizens. Among the millions who got disenfranchised were eligible voters who had been on voter lists for years and significantly included individuals belonging to minority groups (Muslim, Christian, Dalit), and those not projected to be BJP supporters. Until now, for the most part, India has conducted elections scrupulously for decades with amazing precision and efficiency to enable all amongst its millions to vote.
Protesters demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, who over the last year has led the SIR process that has struck more than 130 million names from the voter list across 30 states, roughly 13% of Indian electorate. [2]
The event today will feature testimonials from people on the ground who witnessed the violence, global solidarity statements, and people whose families are directly impacted by the disenfranchisement. Interviews will be possible on site.
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Contact:
514-991-0193
[email protected]
[email protected]
Source:
South Asian Diaspora Action Collective (SADAC)
CERAS (Centre sur l’Asie du Sud)
[1] https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/right-to-vote-democracy-sir-bihar-bengal-deletions-10892049/
[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmdx575lq49xo ; https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/06/world/asia/india-protests-voter-list-changes.html
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