Protest at Bengaluru's Freedom Park demands SIR be scrapped and ballot papers restored
Dhruv Rathee and Prakash Raj joined a demonstration against the SIR of electoral rolls and for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Images are not validated/verified
A large demonstration was held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Thursday, October 8. The protesters demanded that the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be cancelled and that elections across the country be held again on ballot papers. A sit-in and march was held for the purpose, along with a "Jan Nyayalaya" (People's Tribunal).
Agitations have begun in different parts of the country demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In Delhi, the AISF had earlier held a protest, and the INDIA bloc is now agitating under the leadership of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The Cockroach Janta Party had earlier held a large protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, and did so again today at Freedom Park in Bengaluru.
Several well-known people from different fields attended. Popular YouTuber and digital content creator Dhruv Rathee took part in a public movement of this kind in India for the first time. Actor and activist Prakash Raj, political analyst Parakala Prabhakar, senior writer Devanur Mahadeva and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke were also present. Their presence drew a sizeable crowd of young people and Gen Z activists.
Speakers on the stage alleged that the Election Commission is working in favour of the Union government. They also claimed that the SIR process lacks transparency. The organisers claim that of about 5.5 crore voters in Karnataka, more than one crore face the risk of having their names deleted from the rolls. These are the allegations and claims of the agitators.
A People's Tribunal was also set up at the venue. The organisers said it would hear citizens who claim their names have been removed from the electoral roll. According to the organisers, the panel includes retired Supreme Court judge V. Gopala Gowda and legal experts.
Protesters carried placards reading "Dismiss Gyanesh Kumar", "Cancel SIR" and "Bring back ballot papers". Banners with pictures of Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Che Guevara were put up at several places.
Anticipating a large turnout, Bengaluru Police had put tight security in place around Freedom Park. About 900 police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order and keep traffic moving on Seshadri Road.
