Why did I Protest against Gyanesh Kumar? | My Request to all Indians 🇮🇳

Dhruv Rathee’s Remarks at the Bengaluru Protest

Dhruv Rathee spoke at a protest in Bengaluru’s Freedom Park against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. He said he disagreed with some of the people sharing the stage, but argued that defending every voter’s right to participate is a democratic cause that should cross party lines.

Rathee said the revision was removing genuine voters, not just deceased or ineligible people. To support his claim, he cited reports that:

• More than 70,000 names removed from West Bengal’s voter rolls before an election were added back afterward.
• About 65 lakh names were removed in Bihar, and the Election Commission disclosed whose names they were only after the Supreme Court asked.
• Around 14 lakh names were added to Uttar Pradesh’s rolls.
• In Goa, election officials reportedly could not add genuine voters because the relevant option was unavailable in the software.

Calls for Changes

Rathee said voter-roll clean-up may be necessary, but argued that it should be transparent and open to public scrutiny. He called for:

1. Gyanesh Kumar’s removal as Chief Election Commissioner.
2. A new commissioner, chosen impartially with agreement between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
3. The SIR process to be rolled back, with voter lists restored and revised transparently.

Call to Protest

Rathee urged people of all political affiliations to join a protest planned for 10 October at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He said reports indicated a large police and CAPF deployment and possible metro-station closures, but encouraged people to protest peacefully and not direct their anger at police or security personnel.

He framed the protest as a way to defend democracy, regardless of which party people support.

Presenters and Contributors Mentioned

• Dhruv Rathee — speaker
• Abhijeet Deepak and Prakash Sir — referenced in the speech