SIR is an attempt to make India a ‘savarna Hindu Rashtra’, says Parakala Prabhakar
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Political commentator V. Ponraj, economist Parakala Prabhakar, and Journalist Ayyanathan in a brain-storming session organised by the Movement for Retrieving Voter Rights at Periyar Thidal in the city on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: R. RAGU
Economist and author Parakala Prabhakar on Tuesday contended that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, in which several thousand entries were removed across the country, was a part of efforts to turn India into a “savarna Hindu Rashtra”.
“By deleting these people from political society, the aim is to make India a Hindu Rashtra, a savarna Hindu Rashtra. Please understand that SIR is not just an electoral issue,” Mr. Prabhakar said. The SIR should be opposed at the fundamental level, he said. “Fundamental opposition has to stem from what it [the SIR] is going to lead India into,” he added.
The voters deleted from the rolls were largely Muslims, Christians, minorities, Dalits, Adivasis, and marginalised and voiceless people, he said. “People still ask if that was so, how these communities continue to be on the rolls...Can anybody say this will be the last SIR?” he said.
Taking part in a brainstorming session, ‘Ban EVM, Reject SIR’, organised by the Movement for Retrieving Voter Rights at Periyar Thidal in Chennai, Mr. Prabhakar pointed out how the SIR carried out by the Election Commission of India recently was different from the ones carried out a few years ago.
Observing that there was little time left before democracy in the country could be protected, Mr. Prabhakar called upon political parties to remain united and put up a strong fight against the SIR.
He further appealed to them not to contest elections, contending that taking part in the elections would only “legitimise the fraud”.
Mr. Prabhakar also reiterated his opposition to employ Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections claiming there were questions which remain unanswered. Saying he has studied the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he claimed: “The 2024 mandate was a stolen mandate.”
Political commentator V. Ponraj recalled instances where several voters were removed from the electoral rolls in various parts of the country. “If someone kills some 100 people, we call him a terrorist, what do we call someone who kills the voting rights of several thousand people?” he asked.
Questioning the SIR, Mr. Ayyanathan said if a voter was part of the electoral rolls once, he/she should be in the rolls until death.
Journalist Ayyanathan contended the rights of the voters were snatched away and 13 crore voters were removed from the electoral rolls due to SIR. He said paper ballot was essential for democracy.
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