India Voter Roll Protests Escalate as Opposition Ramps Up Pressure

HASLINDA: THE MAIN PROBLEM ARRAIGNS OIL PRICES. THANK YOU. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RALLIED IN MUMBAI AND NEW DELHI ON FRIDAY. THEY WANT THE RESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF INDIAN ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER. THOUSANDS WERE ARRESTED. THEY CLAIM FURTHER PROTESTS THIS WEEK. WHAT REALLY IS THE LATEST ON THESE PROTESTS? THE LATEST AS THEY ARE CONTINUING. UNLIKE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE PROTESTS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT. PEOPLE HAVING COMING OUT IN THE STREETS. COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE BRINGING OUT THEIR SUPPORTERS. THERE HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY DETAINED AND LET GO. THE GOVERNMENT IS HAVING QUITE A TOUGH TIME. TO HANDLE THESE COUNTED PROTESTS. THAT IS WHERE IT IS NOW AT THE MOMENT. TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO MARCH. DEMANDING HIS RESIGNATION. THAT WILL BE A BIG DAY. TOMORROW IS WHEN YOU WILL SEE HOW THESE POLITICAL PARTIES ARE PUTTING THEIR FULL WEIGHT BEHIND THIS. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WAITING AND WATCHING FOR. HASLINDA: WE ARE ALSO WATCHING FOR THE REACTION FROM THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT. HOW ARE THEY TAKING THIS? THE GOVERNMENT REACTION HAS BEEN QUITE MUTED IN A WAY. THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE ELECTION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE IS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL POST. THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT COME OUT AND DEFEND IT. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THE PARTY COMING OUT AND TRYING TO DEFEND THE ELECTION COMMISSIONER. TRYING TO PULL DOWN THE OPPOSITION'S ALLEGATIONS SAYING THAT BECAUSE THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN USING THE ELECTION AS A RESULT TO DO THIS. IS IT MAKING AN IMPACT? IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE ARE SEEING. COMING UP FOR THE PROTESTS. ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS. HASLINDA: WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE COMING DAYS? THAT IS A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION. IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THE OPPOSITION IS ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TOMORROW AND ONWARDS. A SHOW OF STRENGTH ON THE STREETS. IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THE OPPOSITION IS ABLE TO MOBILIZE. HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY CAN BRING IN. WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS THEY CAN CREATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSION. HAVING SAID THAT WITH THE OPPOSITION IS SAYING, THE FACT THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THIS LIST. THEY HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED. THEIR SENSES THAT IS OUT RAGES ON THE GROWING. IF HE GROWS, MORE AND MORE