Economist and political commentator Parakala Prabhakar is expected to join a protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on October 23. Prabhakar is the husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The demonstration, organised by the People Against SIR alliance, aims to raise concerns over the electoral roll revision process and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to media reports published on October 21, Prabhakar will join several prominent public figures, including actor-activist Prakash Raj, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and other activists and representatives of civil society.
The People Against SIR alliance has called for a nationwide mobilisation under the banner of the People's March to Restore Democracy. The group is demanding that the SIR exercise be scrapped and that the names of eligible voters removed from electoral rolls be restored.
The alliance has also called for action against the Chief Election Commissioner and urged political parties associated with the INDIA bloc to participate in the demonstrations.
The campaign's slogan, “Har Haath Mein Tiranga, Har Gali Mein Jantar Mantar”, calls on citizens to carry the national flag and organise peaceful demonstrations across the country.
Prabhakar has been a vocal critic of the electoral roll revision exercise. He has expressed concern that the deletion of names from voter lists could deprive eligible citizens of their voting rights.
Critics of the SIR process have raised questions about transparency, the verification of voter details and the possible exclusion of eligible voters. The Election Commission's revision exercise, however, is intended to update electoral rolls.
The October 23 mobilisation is expected to bring together activists, lawyers, farmers, students and other sections of civil society to press for electoral reforms and the protection of voting rights.
