Bengaluru, October 8: Filmmaker and actor Prakash Raj, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and members of civil society participated in a ‘People’s Tribunal’ in Bengaluru on October 8, raising concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The event, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, brought together students, women and civil society members who alleged that the voter-roll revision process could lead to the exclusion of eligible voters. Protesters raised slogans targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Addressing the gathering, Prakash Raj criticised the revision process, arguing that it could give officials greater authority in determining who is allowed to participate in elections. Testimonies from people who claimed to have been affected by the process were also presented during the tribunal.
The protest later featured a ‘Chappal Protest’, with participants expressing solidarity with women. The demonstration took place under police watch and comes amid a wider political debate over voter deletions, electoral-roll verification and the Election Commission’s position that the exercise is aimed at cleaning up voter lists.
Organisers are also preparing for a larger demonstration in Delhi on October 10, keeping the voter-roll revision issue in the national spotlight.
