Jantar Mantar protests go global as Indian diaspora demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation

Indians living abroad have organised solidarity protests in cities across Europe, North America and Australia in support of demonstrations in India against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Under the call ‘Jantar Mantar is Everywhere’, members of the Indian diaspora have raised concerns over democracy, electoral rights and the right to dissent, demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The demonstrations began in London and Erlangen, Germany, on October 16, with rallies and gatherings spreading to several other cities the following day. On October 17, protests were reported in Göttingen and Berlin in Germany; Dublin in Ireland; The Hague in the Netherlands; Gothenburg in Sweden; Helsinki in Finland; Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal in Canada; Austin, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago in the United States; and Prague in the Czech Republic.

Further demonstrations are scheduled for Sunday in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in Australia, as well as New York City.

London protests demand CEC's resignation

The Student Federation of India (SFI) UK and SFI Leeds jointly called for a solidarity protest outside the High Commission of India in London on October 16, demanding "electoral integrity and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar".

The organisers alleged that a counterprotest took place while their demonstration was under way, with some people they described as "right-wing thugs" attempting to disrupt the gathering.

SFI organised another demonstration on October 17 in front of the Gandhi statue at Parliament Square in London. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee attended as a special speaker.

Visuals shared by the student organisation and Rathee showed more than a thousand protesters waving the Indian flag and raising slogans of azadi and inquilab.

Toronto rally invokes the Constitution

In Toronto, demonstrators gathered outside the Consulate General of India on October 17, raising slogans of "Har ghar, har ghar, Jantar Mantar; leke rahenge Loktantra", meaning every home will become a Jantar Mantar and democracy will be reclaimed.

The protesters read the Indian Constitution and recited poet Gorakh Pandey's work Unka dar, expressing solidarity with people in India and calling for "free, fair, and transparent democratic institutions".

Firdaus-é-Inquilab, which organised the gathering, shared photographs of the demonstration on Instagram with the message: "Gyanu, It's done Bro, Resign Now!"

Another solidarity gathering was organised in Vancouver by the group Indians in Vancouver.

Vancouver protester recounts family's detention in Delhi

According to CBC News, Pablo Khan, who is originally from Mumbai, said his brother and sister had been detained by police in New Delhi while participating in Saturday's demonstrations against alleged electoral manipulation.

Khan joined around 50 people in downtown Vancouver the following day to express solidarity with protesters in India. The gathering also highlighted the right to peaceful protest amid reports of mass detentions in the national capital.

Dublin gathering combines songs, poetry and protest

South Asia Collective Ireland, which describes itself as an anti-fascist, anti-casteist and pro-human-rights group of the South Asian diaspora, organised a solidarity gathering at the Spire in Dublin.

Participants sang songs, shared art, recited poetry and, in the organisers' words, "boo-ed hate".

In a solidarity statement issued the previous week, the organisation said the Indian diaspora and its allies "stand in resolute solidarity with the millions of students, citizens and youth movements taking to the streets of New Delhi and being unlawfully detained from homes, trains, flights, cars and roads".

The statement also raised concerns about the SIR of electoral rolls, amid allegations of widespread deletions and changes affecting millions of registered voters. It concluded with a call to "Restore the rolls. Protect the vote. Defend Indian democracy."

In a video shared on Instagram from the protest site, the organisers alleged that their October 17 demonstration was disrupted by some Indians. They also thanked Garda, Ireland's police and security service, for its "swift and professional response".

More than 150 gather outside International Court of Justice

In The Hague, the Netherlands, more than 150 people assembled outside the International Court of Justice to express solidarity with those protesting in India.

The demonstration, organised by Progressive Indians Europe, began with a recitation of the Indian Constitution. The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) also joined the gathering.

The protest was among several demonstrations across Europe calling for accountability over the alleged irregularities and defending democratic rights in India.

US rallies back India's youth movement

Hindus for Human Rights organised similar solidarity gatherings in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and other locations in the United States in support of the youth movement in India.

Sharing a video from one of the demonstrations, the organisation wrote: "The diaspora stands for democracy!"

A separate solidarity rally is taking place at Union Square in New York City on Sunday. Journalists, writers, lawyers and human rights activists are among the scheduled speakers, including Yashica Dutt, the journalist and author known for her memoir Coming Out as Dalit.

Diaspora raises concerns over electoral rights

The international demonstrations come amid continuing protests in India against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. Protesters have raised concerns about the potential deletion of eligible voters from electoral rolls and have demanded accountability from the Election Commission.

Through the campaign ‘Jantar Mantar is Everywhere’, demonstrators abroad have sought to amplify those concerns and express support for the right to peaceful protest, electoral integrity and democratic institutions in India.