Prabhakar Expected at Nationwide Anti-SIR Protest October 23

Economist Parakala Prabhakar is expected to join a nationwide protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls on October 23, as organisers call for the exercise to be scrapped and eligible voters’ names to be restored. The People Against SIR alliance announced the mobilisation, which is planned across the country and is distinct from a Hyderabad protest Prabhakar says he will attend the following day. The alliance says its October 23 People’s March will encourage demonstrations and public meetings in neighbourhoods, towns and districts. Its campaign slogan, “Har haath mein tiranga, har gali mein Jantar Mantar,” calls for a tricolour in every hand and a Jantar Mantar in every street. The group also wants action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and changes to the process for appointing election commissioners. Prabhakar said in a social-media video that he would take part in a human-chain protest at Tank Bund in Hyderabad on October 24. He said it would begin at 4 p.m. near the Makhdoom Mohiuddin statue. He urged participants to seek the scrapping of SIR, restoration of eligible voters to the rolls, and greater accountability and impartiality...