Dhruv Rathee, Prakash Raj Join Bengaluru Protest Against SIR, Seek CEC’s Resignation
Activists and civil society groups demand scrapping of the electoral roll revision exercise at Freedom Park
Bengaluru: YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee and actor activist Prakash Raj joined a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Thursday against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, CJP, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, along with civil society and student groups. Protesters demanded that the SIR exercise be scrapped and called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision process.
Addressing the gathering, Dhruv Rathee questioned the transparency and accountability of the Election Commission. He also clarified that his participation was not aimed at seeking a change of government.
Prakash Raj called for the SIR exercise to be abandoned, arguing that the issue goes beyond deletion of names from electoral rolls and concerns citizens’ voting rights and dignity. He also alleged that voters from minority, Adivasi and Muslim communities had been disproportionately affected. His remarks about the Election Commission and political leaders were allegations made at the protest and have not been independently established.
Raj further said that removing the Chief Election Commissioner alone would not address the issue and stressed that his primary demand was to end the SIR exercise.
The programme also featured a People’s Tribunal, where voters from different parts of Karnataka shared their grievances. Bengaluru based software engineer Mujibur Rehman alleged that his name was removed after an unknown Form 7 application was submitted against his entry in the electoral roll.
Participants from Bhalki, Babaleshwar and other areas also alleged that their names had been marked as “shifted” or “absent” despite continuing to live at their existing addresses.
Protesters displayed placards carrying messages including “Error 404: Name Not Found” and “Don’t erase us, hear us.” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged irregularities in the revision process and called for action against those responsible.
The organisers demanded that electoral roll deletions made during the SIR exercise be reviewed and that the pre SIR electoral rolls be restored.
The Bengaluru protest is part of a wider campaign by CJP and allied groups over the SIR process, with organisers also announcing further demonstrations and solidarity programmes.