Parakala Prabhakar to participate in human chain protest against SIR in Hyderabad on October 24

Economist Parakala Prabhakar will be participating in a human chain protest at Tank Bund in Hyderabad on October 24 against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise undermines democracy and could lead to the exclusion of eligible voters.

In a video message posted on social media platforms, Mr. Prabhakar said people across the country were questioning the Election Commission of India (ECI) and expressing their disapproval of what he described as the ‘shenanigans’ of the poll panel and the ‘sham called SIR’. He also alleged that electoral mandates were being stolen.

“People from every region, every age group and every walk of life are raising their voices,” he said, arguing that Jantar Mantar, the site of several protests in New Delhi, represented not just a physical location but every street and lane where people expressed dissent. “Every protesting, questioning and dissenting mind is Jantar Mantar,” he said, adding that the authorities could not suppress dissent everywhere.

Calling on people to participate in the Hyderabad protest, Mr. Prabhakar said the human chain would begin at 4 p.m. on October 24 near the Makhdoom Mohiuddin statue at Tank Bund.

He urged participants to demand the scrapping of SIR, the restoration of all eligible voters to electoral rolls, the revocation of the 2023 law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, and greater accountability and impartiality on the part of the ECI. “Let us unite to restore democracy,” he said, asking participants to bring the national flag and placards to the protest.