New Delhi, October 23: A protest march against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls moved towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in central Delhi on Friday, with demonstrators raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter deletions.
The march was organised by the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR, a people's collective, and saw participation from students, young people, farmers and other groups.
Carrying the national flag and banners of the organisation, protesters raised slogans including “Gyanesh Kumar, resign”, “Halt SIR” and “Won’t tolerate vote theft”, expressing their opposition to the ongoing electoral roll revision process.
Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat also joined the demonstration, along with members of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) and the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO), among other organisations.
Security arrangements were tightened in central Delhi as the march proceeded towards the ECI headquarters. Police personnel displayed banners prohibiting public gatherings and demonstrations under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The protesters alleged that the SIR process could lead to the deletion of eligible voters from electoral rolls and demanded that the exercise be halted.
The demonstration comes amid continuing political and public debate over the revision of electoral rolls and concerns raised by opposition groups regarding voter inclusion and the transparency of the process.
