Hundreds gathered at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Parliament Square in London on Saturday (October 17, 2026) for a protest organised by the Opposition Congress and UK-based Indian students’ groups against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“We don’t want any foreign interference. Rathee, addressing the gathering in Hindi. “It is important to spread the message against ‘vote chori’ in our country. The protest was organised by the Indian Overseas Congress Youth wing and supported by several diaspora platforms including Save Democracy, Students’ Federation of India (SFI) U.K. and South Asia Solidarity Group among others. They were faced with supporters of the CEC, who also assembled at the spot to hold a counter-protest. In a video of the crowd at London’s Parliament Square, protesters can be seen raising flags and posters while chanting slogans.
I am here at Parliament Square to address Indians and NRIs,” said Mr. These protests will stop the moment the Chief Election Commissioner is replaced by a candidate that is chosen in agreement between the government and Leader of the Opposition,” he said. ID U.K. founder Hirdesh Gupta said: “The Indian diaspora in the U.K. stands firmly, shoulder to shoulder, with Modi Ji and his government in their vision of a strong, united and developed India. Earlier reporting noted: People supporting and opposing the CEC and the Cockroach Janta Party gathered at the Parliament Square, according to news agency ANI . Earlier reporting noted: According to an X post shared by the Students’ Federation of India, United Kingdom, the organisation gathered outside the High Commission of India, and wrote, “LONDON STANDS WITH INDIA! The protesters demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, according to the post.
Earlier reporting noted: CEC stir reaches London as protests, counter-protest held at Parliament Square; Watch A crowd gathered at Parliament Square, London, UK, on Saturday, reportedly to protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
