Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Prakash Raj Demands SIR Scrapping, BJP Criticizes CEC Remark
Actor and activist Prakash Raj spoke out against a review of voter lists called SIR.
He said people had been removed from the lists and that many appeals were waiting to be heard.
He questioned whether voters should have to wait years for decisions.
Raj said the SIR process should be stopped and scrapped.
He also used a comparison involving the immersion of Ganesha idols and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Telangana BJP spokesperson N. V. Subhash said that comparison was disrespectful to a constitutional institution.
Subhash said Raj should present evidence through the proper channels.
A protest in Hyderabad also demanded that Kumar resign and that SIR be scrapped.
Prakash Raj criticized the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and called for it to be halted and scrapped.
He cited reports that 3.8 million voter-inclusion appeals were pending in tribunals in West Bengal, potentially taking 10–12 years to decide.
Raj alleged that voters, including daily-wage workers, had been deleted from rolls after being absent when Booth Level Officers visited.
Telangana BJP spokesperson N. V. Subhash called Raj’s comparison of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to an idol immersion disrespectful to a constitutional institution.
A protest in Hyderabad called for Kumar’s resignation, scrapping the SIR exercise, and repeal of the Chief Election Commissioner Act, 2023.
- Who
- Actor and activist Prakash Raj, Telangana BJP spokesperson N. V. Subhash, and protesters.
- What
- Raj criticized the SIR electoral-roll process and called for it to be scrapped; Subhash criticized Raj’s remarks about Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- When
- Saturday; no date is specified in the article.
- Where
- Hyderabad, with the cited pending appeals in West Bengal.
- Why
- Raj said the process was deleting voters rather than being inclusive, while Subhash objected to Raj’s comparison of the CEC to an idol immersion.
Criticism of SIR
Defense of institutional respect
SIR and voter-roll deletions
Criticism of SIR
Raj alleged that SIR had become a deletion process rather than an inclusive one, and said voters removed from rolls should not have to wait years for appeals to be decided.
Defense of institutional respect
Subhash said objections should be presented with facts and evidence to the appropriate forum rather than through what he called provocative street rhetoric.
Remarks about the CEC
Criticism of SIR
Raj used the phrase “Gyanesh Kumar visarjan remains” while criticizing the process and calling for SIR to be scrapped.
Defense of institutional respect
Subhash said comparing the Chief Election Commissioner to an idol immersion was disrespectful to a constitutional institution, while acknowledging Raj’s right to criticize the Election Commission.
- Pending appeals
- Media reports cited by Raj said 38 lakh voter-inclusion appeals were pending before tribunals in West Bengal.
- Estimated decision time
- The reports said resolving the appeals could take 10–12 years.
- Raj’s demand
- He called for the SIR process to be stalled and scrapped.
- BJP response
- N. V. Subhash said Raj’s comparison crossed from political criticism into disrespect for a constitutional institution.
- Protest demands
- Protesters called for the CEC’s resignation, scrapping the SIR exercise, and repeal of the Chief Election Commissioner Act, 2023.
- Reported voter deletions
- Raj said people told him their names were deleted after they were not at home when a Booth Level Officer visited.