Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has said he and Congress MLAs will travel to Delhi on Monday to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that one crore names had been removed from Karnataka’s voter lists without verification.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Sunday, Shivakumar said he had instructed all Congress MLAs to be present in the national capital to defend voters’ rights. He stressed that the Congress would hold its own demonstration rather than join the protest organised by other groups, and would not seek to mobilise a large crowd.
“Tomorrow (Monday), we will fight in our own way. I have instructed all our MLAs to be in Delhi. We do not want a large number of people to go. Our MLAs will be in Delhi. I am also going to Delhi. We will fight for the rights of voters. Our hope is that the rights of every voter in the country should be protected and they should get the right to vote. We cannot delete the names of voters from the list,” he said.
Shivakumar questions restrictions on protests
Shivakumar said whether the organisers had obtained permission for the Delhi demonstration was a separate issue from the authorities’ response to it. He raised concerns over restrictions imposed at the outset, an internet shutdown and the detention of people arriving by plane.
He said the arrest of elected representatives in such circumstances was embarrassing for the country and questioned the state of democratic freedoms.
“The Prime Minister should answer whether there is democracy or an emergency in the country. Let us give him time,” Shivakumar said.
Describing India as an internationally recognised leading democracy, he warned that restrictions on protests could damage the country’s reputation. Those in power, he said, should be prepared to face criticism and respond to people’s questions rather than prevent them from expressing their views.
“In a democracy, protesters have the right to protest. They have their own voice. No one can suppress that voice. Let them protest. If you are in power, answer all their questions. Give them a chance to meet the Election Commission. Let them meet the leaders,” he said.
Shivakumar added that people in public life must accept criticism and acknowledge mistakes when they have done something wrong. He said the treatment of protesters reflected what he described as an atmosphere of fear in the country.
Congress to hold its own demonstration
Shivakumar clarified that the Congress had not been consulted about the protest organised by other groups. However, he said the party would not attempt to stop the demonstration, noting that some members of the INDIA alliance were participating and had the right to do so.
“They are protesting in their own way. We do not want to stop them. The Congress party will protest in its own way,” he said, adding that his party did not want to interfere in the organisers’ plans.
The Congress’s proposed demonstration comes amid continuing opposition to the SIR exercise and demands for accountability from the Election Commission over the revision of electoral rolls.
Dalits, minorities and backward communities a concern
Shivakumar reiterated his allegation that one crore names had been deleted from Karnataka’s electoral rolls without verification. He said the state Congress had a responsibility to protect every citizen’s voting rights, with particular attention to Dalits, minorities and backward communities.
“How many names have been deleted in Karnataka? You have deleted the names of one crore people without any verification. As the chief minister of a state, belonging to the party that brought independence to the country, it is our duty to protect the voting rights of all people. It is especially important to protect the voting rights of Dalits, minorities and backward communities. Erasing their votes, especially for political purposes, is inhumane. This is not democracy; it is a dictatorship. We will fight against this and organise our people,” he said.
The allegation about one crore deletions was made by Shivakumar. The figure was not independently established in the information provided.
Shivakumar responds to retired officers’ letter
Asked about a letter from retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers expressing support for the SIR, Shivakumar said their views reflected their own assessment and should not be treated as the position of a political party.
“The former IAS officers have performed their duty. Their opinion is the voice of the country, not the voice of any political party,” he said.