New Delhi, The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the People Against SIR platform have called for protests across the country on Friday against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), demanding the restoration of voting rights of those deleted from electoral rolls and the removal and prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protests will be held at district and tehsil headquarters, state capitals and in Delhi, where People Against SIR has called for a march to the Election Commission's office, according to the organisers.
The SKM, which had spearheaded the 2020-21 agitation against three central farm laws, said its member organisations would submit a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu through district magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates, demanding the scrapping of the SIR exercise and the restoration of voting rights to 13.41 crore citizens allegedly deleted from electoral rolls.
The farmers' body has also sought an amendment to the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners to include the Chief Justice of India in the selection panel and comprehensive electoral reforms, including proportional representation and state funding of elections.
The SKM warned that farmers would come forward to protect protesters if the government continued to suppress demonstrations. It also demanded action over alleged police excesses against protesters, including women students and journalists, and the revocation of the order denotifying Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site.
People Against SIR claimed more than 300 organisations had joined the platform, with protests planned across 25 states and Union territories.
"People's March will be the beginning of a united struggle by the people of India until Gyanesh Kumar is prosecuted, illegal SIR is scrapped, the voting rights of every genuine citizen of India is restored, and the Election Commissioners Act 2023 is amended," the platform said.
In Delhi, participants will assemble near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gol Dak Khana and Gol Market at 1 pm before marching to the Election Commission and holding a "People's Parliament".
The platform said protesters would march with the national flag and, if stopped by police, hold a peaceful gathering to reaffirm their commitment to democratic rights.