Bengaluru: A massive protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Thursday, drawing large crowds, including women and students.
Actor and social activist Prakash Raj, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke were among those who participated in the protest. The protesters demanded the withdrawal of the SIR exercise and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest was organised in the form of a People’s Tribunal, giving residents from different parts of Karnataka who claimed to have been affected by the SIR process an opportunity to present their grievances. Organisers said complaints concerning alleged wrongful deletion of names from electoral rolls, difficulties in the verification process and other irregularities were presented along with supporting documents and evidence.
Leaders associated with the anti-SIR campaign and the Nagarika Mata Kavalu Samiti (Citizens’ Vote Watch Committee) described the event as a public hearing aimed at safeguarding citizens’ electoral rights. They alleged that the SIR exercise could adversely affect the voting rights of workers, poor people, Dalits, minorities and other vulnerable sections.
The participation of Prakash Raj and Dhruv Rathee brought considerable public attention to the protest. Rathee questioned the transparency and accountability of the Election Commission, while Prakash Raj said the issue concerned citizens’ rights and dignity and should not be viewed merely as a matter of deletion of names from electoral rolls. He called for the SIR to be withdrawn.
Protesters raised slogans including “Reject SIR”, “Gyanesh Kumar, step down” and “Vote theft”. Posters displayed at the venue carried messages such as “Error 404 – Name Not Found”, “Don’t erase us, hear us” and “Grand Theft Democracy”.
People began arriving at Freedom Park from the morning, with protesters carrying the national and Karnataka flags. Some groups raised slogans demanding an end to what they described as an anti-people SIR. Representatives of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Aam Aadmi Party and Young Democrats were also present.
A “Chappal Protest” was another key part of Thursday’s programme. According to the CJP, it was organised in solidarity with women journalists who were allegedly harassed by police during a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi. CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka had earlier announced that the chappal protest would follow the People’s Tribunal at Freedom Park.
The main demands raised by the protesters and organisers included cancellation of the SIR and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Various civil society and social organisations have also raised objections over the alleged deletion of voters’ names during the revision exercise.
The CJP has additionally demanded restoration of the electoral roll of January 2025, suspension of the SIR, an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities and withdrawal of the 2023 law governing appointments to the Election Commission.
Organisers said they had collected complaints and case details from people in different districts who claimed to have been affected by the SIR process. Prakash Raj had also travelled to various parts of Karnataka over the past around 15 days to gather information relating to the exercise, which was to be presented before the People’s Tribunal. People affected by the SIR and social activists had also been urged to submit their grievances and supporting documents for consideration at the tribunal.
Police made elaborate security arrangements at Freedom Park in view of the protest.
The Bengaluru demonstration is part of the CJP’s ongoing campaign against the SIR. The party had earlier announced that if CEC Gyanesh Kumar did not resign, it would hold a larger protest titled “Jantar Mantar 2.0” at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10.