Organisations protest against arrest of anti-SIR activists
The protesters in Dharwad condemned the ‘repressive policies of the Union government and the police against anti-SIR activists in New Delhi’.
Various organisations, including AIDSO, AIDYO, AIKKMS, and numerous labour unions and civil society groups, gathered in Dharwad on Sunday (October 11) to protest against the arrest of anti-SIR activists in New Delhi. The demonstrators were taken into custody before, during, and after the Jantar Mantar protest, part of a nationwide movement demanding the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Protesters claimed that over 7,000 people, including students, youth, and leaders of progressive organisations, were arrested. They demanded their immediate and unconditional release, arguing that the BJP-led Union government had undermined the fundamental right to protest for one's rights. AIDYO district president Bhavani Shankar Gouda highlighted the SIR process's denial of voting rights to over 13 crore voters, calling it anti-people and undemocratic. He demanded an immediate cancellation of the SIR.
AIDSO district president Sindhu Kaudi echoed similar sentiments, condemning the Congress government's suppression of the protest in Bengaluru through police force. Deepa Dharwad of AIKKMS emphasized that India, like the land of Bhagat Singh and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, would not allow pro-people struggles to be suppressed. Leaders present included Sadhik Rauf Khan, Umar Langoti, Shantesh Nandikolmath, Siddalinga Chippalakatti, and Saimuddin Magalani.
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