Dhruv Rathee Leads London Protest Over India’s Electoral Roll Revision

On Saturday, October 17, a crowd gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, London, to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of India’s electoral rolls. The protest was organized by UK-based Indian student groups and the Indian Overseas Congress Youth wing, with YouTuber Dhruv Rathee as the keynote speaker. Participants chanted “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod!” and called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Indian student groups protest against CEC, SIR in London; Govt supporters hold counter-protest Dhruv Rathee flies to London and joins ‘Jantar Mantar’ protest Dhruv Rathee calls for protest at London’s Parliament Square — ‘Time world sees reality of vote chor’ Dhruv Rathee announces London protest against 'vote chori'; says time to ring the 'international bells' Telegraph India'Time to make issue resonate internationally': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee calls London protest over 'vote chori'

The SIR is an Election Commission exercise intended to purge deceased, duplicate, shifted or otherwise ineligible entries from voter lists. Critics allege that the revision has removed over 130 million names, prompting protests by opposition parties, student organisations and civil-rights groups. Earlier in October, Rathee was detained in Gurugram ahead of a planned protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, an incident he later described as a kidnapping.

'Time to make issue resonate internationally': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee calls London protest over 'vote chori'

• Oct 10: Six U.S. Democratic lawmakers urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise concerns with India over alleged excessive force linked to the Cockroach Janata Party protests.

Telegraph India

• Oct 11: Rathee held a press conference, stating, “I was not detained; I was kidnapped.”

Dhruv Rathee calls for protest at London’s Parliament Square — ‘Time world sees reality of vote chor’

• Oct 16: Rathee posted on X, announcing a London protest for the following day.

Dhruv Rathee announces London protest against 'vote chori'; says time to ring the 'international bells'

• Oct 17: Protest held at Parliament Square; a counter-protest organised by the Indian diaspora in the UK.

Indian student groups protest against CEC, SIR in London; Govt supporters hold counter-protest

• The Election Commission’s SIR has reportedly deleted over 130 million voter-list entries.

Indian student groups protest against CEC, SIR in London; Govt supporters hold counter-protest

• Hundreds of Indian students attended the London rally, displaying Communist, Congress and Indian Workers Association flags.

Dhruv Rathee flies to London and joins ‘Jantar Mantar’ protest

• The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) announced the closure of Connaught Place market on the protest day for public-safety reasons.

'Time to make issue resonate internationally': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee calls London protest over 'vote chori'

Delhi Police explained that Rathee’s earlier detention was a preventive measure under Section 172(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and that he was released after nearly 18 hours.

'Time to make issue resonate internationally': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee calls London protest over 'vote chori'

The rally featured chants such as “Modi is a traitor” and “Inquilab Zindabad,” with some participants holding a stuffed toy monkey as a symbolic prop. Metropolitan Police kept the pro-government counter-demonstrators, who shouted “Modi, Modi,” separated from the main crowd. Rathee addressed the assembly in Hindi, emphasizing the need to spread the message against “vote chori” and stating that the protests would end once the CEC is replaced by a mutually agreed candidate.

Indian student groups protest against CEC, SIR in London; Govt supporters hold counter-protest

• Detention vs. kidnapping: Rathee described his October 11 release as a kidnapping, while police characterised it as a lawful preventive detention.

Dhruv Rathee calls for protest at London’s Parliament Square — ‘Time world sees reality of vote chor’

• Scale of deletions: Sources cite “over 130 million” names removed, but no official breakdown of categories (deceased, duplicate, etc.) is provided.

Indian student groups protest against CEC, SIR in London; Govt supporters hold counter-protest

• “I was not detained; I was kidnapped.” — Dhruv Rathee

Telegraph India

• “We don't want any foreign interference. I am here at Parliament Square to address Indians and NRIs,” — Dhruv Rathee

Indian student groups protest against CEC, SIR in London; Govt supporters hold counter-protest

• “They are trying to make it an international issue and divide the Indian diaspora here which is very bad. This has got nothing to do with the UK.” — Hirdesh Gupta, NDTA joint secretary

Dhruv Rathee flies to London and joins ‘Jantar Mantar’ protest