Pics: Thejaswi Poojary

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Oct 23: A protest titled 'Oorooru Jantar Mantar' was held in the city under the leadership of the Sahabalve organisation and various like-minded groups, opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protesters marched from the Clock Tower to Jodukatte, where a protest meeting was held. They demanded the immediate cancellation of the SIR process currently being undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Addressing the gathering, All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Bhavya Narasimhamurthy alleged that the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 by making false promises. She stated that the assurances of doubling farmers’ income and providing two crore jobs to the youth every year have remained unfulfilled. She further alleged that attempts were being made to use the Election Commission to the ruling party’s advantage amid fears of an electoral defeat.

Questioning the functioning of the Election Commission under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, she said the present generation was responding democratically to the oppression faced by Dalits and backward communities in the past.

Former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake alleged that efforts were being made to deprive 13 crore people across the country of their voting rights. Criticising the Prime Minister for staying away from Parliament, he expressed concern that the SIR process carried out by the ECI could adversely affect the voting rights of lakhs of eligible citizens.

Sorake demanded the immediate cancellation of the revision process and called for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Sahabalve organisation's Phaniraj, Sundar Master, Ramesh Kanchan, Prasadraj Kanchan, Hariprasad Rai, Harish Kini, Ismail Kodibengre, Prashanth Jattan, Nagesh Kumar Udyavar, and hundreds of activists representing various organisations participated in the protest.