Thiruvananthapuram, October 7 (Daily Kiran) : Actor and activist Prakash Raj has called for the immediate cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, asserting that it poses a serious threat to citizens’ voting rights and equates to an attempt to undermine democracy. Speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, Raj launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Raj emphasized that the SIR process could disenfranchise over 130 million citizens across the country. He warned that this could create a divide among citizens, categorizing them into two groups: those with the right to vote and those without it.
Reflecting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the SIR, Raj stated that the underlying agenda was becoming clearer. He urged a historical understanding of the Election Commission and the electoral process in India. He recalled that when India gained independence, there were debates about whether all citizens, especially the poor and uneducated, should have the right to choose their government.
He pointed out that past leaders, including Ambedkar and Nehru, rejected the notion that voting rights should be limited to a privileged few. Raj asserted that the right to vote is foundational to democratic India and accused current processes of undermining this principle.
He urged citizens to take to the streets to protect their voting rights and announced plans for local protests. Additionally, he proposed holding public tribunals for those allegedly impacted by the revision process.
As the controversy over the SIR escalates, political parties and civil society groups are expressing concerns about the potential removal of genuine voters’ names from the lists. Raj has called on citizens to remain vigilant and resist efforts he views as attempts to strip away democratic rights.
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