Pakistani journalist Najm Sethi discusses New Delhi protests against Chief Election Commissioner

Protests in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have drawn international attention, including commentary from Pakistani media figures.

Senior Pakistani journalist Najm Sethi, speaking on a podcast, discussed the demonstrations led by opposition parties and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), noting the involvement of public figures such as Dhruv Rathee and Prakash. Sethi claimed that the ongoing protests place Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a difficult political position and asserted that it would be challenging for the prime minister to protect the election commissioner.

According to Sethi, 22 opposition parties are backing the movement under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, with demands escalating from the removal of the election commissioner to calls for the prime minister’s resignation. He compared the current situation to previous political pressures and suggested that Prime Minister Modi should remove the election commissioner to prevent further escalation, violence, and casualties.

Sethi also commented on Indian media coverage, stating that outlets initially remained silent for several days before beginning to report on the demonstrations. Additionally, he alleged that the Supreme Court of India would intervene regarding the reported removal of 13 crore voters through SIR procedures.

The protests in the national capital have involved the CJP, the Congress party, and various other opposition groups, focusing scrutiny on the election commission.