Bengaluru: Bengaluru’s Freedom Park witnessed a major protest on Thursday over concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee and actor activist Prakash Raj joined the protest along with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and other organisers.
The programme included a People’s Tribunal on SIR, where people from different parts of Karnataka who say they were affected by the electoral roll revision were invited to share their experiences.
Protesters Raise SIR Concerns
- Protesters are demanding the scrapping of the SIR exercise and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- The protesters allege that eligible voters have been wrongly removed from electoral rolls during the revision process.
- These claims are part of the protesters’ allegations and have not been established as a final finding against the Election Commission.
- The gathering saw slogans calling for the withdrawal of SIR and action against the Chief Election Commissioner. Reports said hundreds of people had gathered at Freedom Park, including families, women, children and working professionals.
- Police increased security around the venue and installed barricades as the crowd gathered.
Dhruv Rathee Joins Protest
- Dhruv Rathee had confirmed before the event that he would participate in the Bengaluru protest.
- After joining the gathering, he appeared on stage with Prakash Raj and CJP leaders.
- Rathee described the protest as part of a broader effort to raise concerns about democracy and electoral rights.
- The Bengaluru protest is also being viewed as a precursor to a larger mobilisation planned at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 10.
Prakash Raj Raises SIR Concerns
- Prakash Raj also addressed the gathering and backed the demand for changes to the SIR process.
- The actor-activist has previously urged citizens, civil society groups and affected voters to participate in the Bengaluru programme.
- He has also criticised the SIR process and supported the campaign demanding accountability from election authorities.
‘Chappal Protest’ Also Planned
- Following the People’s Tribunal, organisers planned a separate “Chappal Protest.”
- According to organisers, the protest is being held in solidarity with women journalists who have alleged sexual harassment during an earlier protest in Delhi.
- The organisers say the symbolic protest is intended to highlight women’s safety and solidarity with women facing harassment.
Fresh FIRs Over Form 7 Allegations
- The Bengaluru protest comes amid separate developments in Karnataka concerning allegations of misuse of Form 7, which is used to object to the inclusion of names in electoral rolls.
- The New Indian Express reported that police have registered three FIRs in Karnataka following complaints alleging bulk or false Form 7 applications seeking deletion of voters’ names during the SIR process.
- Two FIRs were registered in Mangaluru, while another was filed in Madikeri. Police investigations are continuing.
- The allegations in these cases remain subject to investigation, and responsibility has not been established by a final court finding.
Election Process Under Public Scrutiny
- The developments in Karnataka have added to the wider national debate over the SIR exercise and the protection of voters’ rights.
- Supporters of the revision process maintain that electoral rolls need regular verification and correction. Protesters, however, are demanding greater transparency and safeguards to ensure that eligible voters are not wrongly excluded.
- The controversy has now moved beyond political statements, with protests, complaints and police investigations adding to the public debate.
- For voters, the central issue remains clear: any electoral roll revision must protect the right of eligible citizens to vote while removing only names that are legally ineligible.
Business Galaxy will continue to follow developments surrounding SIR, electoral-roll verification and voter rights with a focus on verified information and responsible journalism.
