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LONDON: Hundreds of people gathered at Parliament Square in London on Saturday to protest against India\u2019s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged electoral irregularities, with prominent YouTuber Dhruv Rathee addressing the demonstration.<\/strong><\/p>\n The protesters, who assembled in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for greater transparency in India\u2019s electoral process. The demonstration was organised by opposition-linked groups and UK-based Indian student organisations.<\/p>\n Dhruv Rathee, who attended the protest as a keynote speaker, was welcomed by demonstrators with cheers and slogans.<\/p>\n Addressing the gathering in Hindi, he said he had come to speak to Indians and non-resident Indians (NRIs), stressing the need to raise awareness about what protesters describe as \u201cvote theft.\u201d<\/p>\n This is London right now<\/p>\n @narendramodi https:\/\/t.co\/jBUAFUjiKS<\/p>\n \u2014 Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) October 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dhruv Rathee said such protests could continue until the chief election commissioner was replaced by a candidate acceptable to both the government and the opposition.<\/p>\n He emphasised the importance of electoral transparency and maintaining public confidence in democratic institutions.<\/p>\n Demonstrators raised slogans including \u201cVote Chor, Gaddi Chhod\u201d (Vote thief, vacate the throne) and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.<\/p>\n Flags associated with the Congress party, communist organisations and the Indian Workers Association were also seen at the gathering.<\/p>\n Protesters expressed concerns that the electoral roll revision process could lead to irregularities and called for greater scrutiny of the exercise.<\/p>\n India\u2019s Election Commission, however, maintains that the SIR process is intended to update voter lists by removing deceased, duplicate, relocated and otherwise ineligible entries.<\/p>\n Dhruv Rathee Speech from Parliament Square in London \ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffb<\/p>\n @dhruv_rathee we are behind you figuratively and literally! https:\/\/t.co\/e6Q4oAhQ2b<\/p>\n\n
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