2 hrs ago
Dhruv Rathee, Prakash Raj Join Bengaluru Protest Against CEC
People gathered at Freedom Park in Bengaluru to protest how voter lists are being checked and updated.
The process is called the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
They said there were problems with the process and asked Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Some also wanted the SIR exercise stopped.
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and actor Prakash Raj spoke at the protest.
Rathee said the Election Commission lacked transparency and accountability, while saying he was not there to seek a change of government.
A software engineer said his own name had disappeared from the voter list.
Organisers said they planned a later protest in solidarity with women affected by the SIR exercise.
Abhijeet Dipke, Dhruv Rathee and Prakash Raj joined a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Thursday.
Protesters called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and for the SIR voter-roll revision to be scrapped.
Demonstrators alleged irregularities and lack of transparency in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Posters included slogans such as “Error 404 - Name Not Found” and “It's done bro, resign sir.”
Bengaluru software engineer Mujibur Rehman said his name had been deleted and he did not know who filed the Form-7 application.
- Who
- Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, actor-activist Prakash Raj and other protesters.
- What
- A demonstration demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the scrapping of the SIR voter-roll revision.
- Where
- Freedom Park, Bengaluru.
- When
- Thursday; the articles do not specify a calendar date.
- Why
- Protesters alleged irregularities, deleted voter names and insufficient transparency and accountability in the SIR process.
Protesters’ allegations
Election Commission response
SIR process
Protesters’ allegations
Protesters called for the SIR to be scrapped, alleging irregularities and deleted voter names.
Election Commission response
The articles report no response from the Election Commission to the protesters’ allegations.
CEC’s accountability
Protesters’ allegations
Protesters demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation; Rathee alleged there was zero transparency and accountability from the Election Commission.
Election Commission response
The articles provide no response from Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission to those claims.
Key facts
- Location
- Freedom Park, Bengaluru
- Organisers
- Cockroach Janata Party and civil society groups
- Main demand
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation as Chief Election Commissioner
- Process under protest
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Prominent participants
- Abhijeet Dipke, Dhruv Rathee and Prakash Raj
- Reported personal case
- Mujibur Rehman said his name had been deleted and he did not know who submitted the Form-7 application.
- Announced follow-up
- Organisers said a “Chappal protest” would follow, in solidarity with women affected by SIR.
Quotes
Mujibur Rehman
Bengaluru-based software engineer who said his name was deleted from the electoral rolls.
“To save Gyanesh Kumar, barricades have been erected everywhere. No matter how much the administration tries to save him, people will definitely punish ‘vote chors’ (vote thieves). These people have toyed with the idea of democracy and conspired to end it.”
telegraphindia.com
“It is our democratic right. We have been robbed of our right to vote. We have to be together to save democracy, because I have lost my own vote.”
rediff.com
telegraphindia.com
Sources
'Scrap SIR': Dhruv Rathee, Prakash Raj, Dipke stage protest
‘Error 404’, ‘Gyanesh, it’s done bro’ slogans at CJP’s Bengaluru EC stir
‘Zero accountability from EC’: Dhruv Rathee, Prakash Raj join CJP protest against Gyanesh Kumar
Abhijeet Dipke, Dhruv Rathee, Prakash Raj lead protest, seek CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over SIR
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