New Delhi, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced its support for the SIR movement, scheduled to take place on October 10 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The union issued a warning to the Delhi police and state governments led by the BJP-RSS, stating that any attempt to suppress peaceful public demonstrations would not be tolerated.
SKM accused the central government of misusing police forces and creating a situation akin to an undeclared emergency in the country. They emphasized that raising concerns over the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of voter lists is a democratic right, aimed at preventing citizens from being deprived of their voting rights. The union has also questioned the actions of police in BJP-ruled states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttarakhand.
According to SKM, several activists planning to join the protests have reportedly been taken into illegal custody. The organization raised alarms about the detention of female students and other activists, alongside allegations of intimidation campaigns, particularly around mosques. They expressed concern over social media content that appears to incite violence against protesters.
The SKM claimed that instructions have been issued to cancel trains arriving at Hazrat Nizamuddin and New Delhi railway stations from 4 AM to 2 PM on October 10, as well as to close 57 metro stations in New Delhi. They condemned these measures as a panicked response from the government. The union noted that the deployment of 26,000 police officers during the protest indicates a political insecurity.
The organization questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the legal grounds for police officers entering citizens’ homes and detaining them. They urged the judiciary, including high courts and the Supreme Court, to take cognizance of these alleged illegal actions aimed at preventing peaceful demonstrations. Citing Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Indian Constitution, SKM stressed that freedom of expression and the right to assemble peacefully are fundamental pillars of democracy.
While acknowledging that public disturbances may occur during peaceful protests, the union argued that such disruptions should be viewed as a necessary aspect of the freedom to dissent within a democratic framework. They asserted that the primary responsibility of the administration should be to facilitate non-violent protests, rather than obstruct them. The SKM suggested that the Delhi police could implement measures such as barricading and altering traffic routes to manage protests peacefully.
Additionally, the organization criticized the alleged mistreatment of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, arguing that such forceful actions against elected representatives are not in line with democratic norms.
Referring to Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code, SKM highlighted that while this provision allows for the issuance of prohibitory orders to prevent public unrest, it should not be used to impose broad or permanent restrictions on peaceful gatherings. The union demanded that the Delhi police allow citizens to express their dissent in a democratic manner at designated protest sites. They also called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the SIR process, and the restoration of citizens’ voting rights.
Furthermore, SKM has demanded the annulment of elections held in Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry following the implementation of SIR. They also urged for legal amendments to include the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee for appointing election commissioners, ensuring accountability in the election commission.
The farmers’ union appealed to farmers nationwide to resist any form of violence against their constitutional right to peaceful protest. They deemed the alleged illegal interference in voter lists a grave issue and vowed to continue the fight to protect voting rights and the independence of democratic institutions. The SKM reaffirmed its commitment to stand with the SIR movement on October 10 at Jantar Mantar and oppose any repressive actions against peaceful demonstrations.
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