‘Whole country is awake’: Anti-SIR group holds Tiranga march protest

Bengaluru

Hundreds of protesters belonging to the anti-SIR coalition gathered at Town Hall on Friday for a ‘Tiranga March’ to Freedom Park, demanding the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

The coalition comprised several organisations, including My Vote My Right Karnataka, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) Karnataka and the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti, along with civil society groups, farmers, activists and concerned citizens.

Before assembling at Town Hall, protesters took to the streets at various locations across Bengaluru, including Infantry Road, War Memorial, Brigade Road, Anandapuram and Jayanagar, among other areas.

They later marched towards Freedom Park, raising slogans and carrying placards, and were also accompanied by the rhythmic beats of tamate drums, which continued to reverberate as protesters made their way through the city and even after they reached Freedom Park.

“We are marching from Town Hall to Freedom Park because, across the country, an agitation has begun that will continue until we restore electoral integrity, secure justice and ensure a clean and transparent voter list.

We will prepare a list which is in accordance with the Constitution, not dictated by a bunch of goons. We are putting a stop to this, and the whole country is now awake”, said Tara Rao, Eddelu Karnataka, adding that the protests and marches were only the beginning of a larger movement to defend citizens' rights and demand greater  accountability.