Civil rights forum to stage dharna against SIR on October 2
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Mahesh Kumar Rathod, convener of the Movement for the Protection of Citizens’ Rights, addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi city on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
The Movement for the Protection of Civil Rights, a consortium of progressive organisations, will stage a dharna and take out a protest march in Kalaburagi on October 2, demanding protection of voters’ rights, transparency in electoral roll revision and suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, forum convener Mahesh Kumar Rathod alleged that the SIR process could lead to the exclusion of eligible voters from electoral rolls. He demanded the restoration of names wrongly deleted from the rolls and called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Activist K. Neela alleged that the SIR was similar in its exclusionary implications to the NRC and CAA and claimed that it was aimed at excluding Muslim voters from the electoral process. She stressed the need to ensure that no eligible citizen was denied the right to vote.
Activist Afzal Mahmood also sought an independent and transparent Election Commission and changes in the appointment process for Election Commissioners, with the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India proposed as members of the selection panel. He demanded re-elections in States where the SIR process had allegedly been misused to influence electoral outcomes.
The forum will hold a dharna on October 2, followed by a march from Super Market to Jagat Circle, and submit a memorandum addressed to the President of India through the Deputy Commissioner.
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