“The fight against the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is not just a struggle to save our voting rights. It is a people’s movement to save democracy and protect the Constitution. We should not let any party hijack the fight against SIR,” Prakash Raj, actor and activist, said in Vijayapura on Sunday. He was addressing an anti-SIR rally organised by the Mata Kavalu Samiti and other organisations. He also presented several eligible voters who had received notices or faced third-party objections to their inclusion in electoral rolls.
“By this time, we know that the BJP is using the SIR to delete the names of the poor and deprived. Most of the 13 crore deleted names belong to the poor, slum dwellers, Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims, Christians, and women. If this is not a conspiracy, what else is it? We also know, due to the work of some outstanding journalists, that several decisions of the ECI, including the SIR, were not majority decisions. We should come to the streets, forgetting all our political differences,” he said.
“Therefore, to oppose such an exercise is to fight to save ourselves, our democracy and the Constitution that protects it. That is why I say it is not a political struggle. It does not belong to any party. I urge you not to believe in any party — whether ruling or opposition. All of them think that we are vote-giving machines and not humans with rights. But we should not fall for it. The Constitution gives us the right to remain unattached to any party. We may choose one party this time and another party another time. We should strive hard to protect our democracy,” he said.
“We should get ready for a peaceful satyagraha. There is a need for a second freedom struggle. We should learn lessons from the Gen Z protests in Delhi and Mumbai. They have come together in the name of cockroaches and are leading by example,” he said.
Bhogesh Solapur, samiti president, Isabella Xavier, and other activists were present.
Published - October 04, 2026 08:32 pm IST