Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Oct 31: Actor and social activist Prakash Raj on Saturday said that the movement against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was not merely a protest against the alleged deprivation of voting rights but also a fight to bring down the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a massive public march organised by the Joint Forum of Secular Political Parties and Organisations of Dakshina Kannada, Prakash Raj said the objective of the movement was to defeat the BJP government, which he alleged was inspired by the RSS.
The march, held under his leadership, began at Ambedkar (Jyothi) Circle and proceeded towards Clock Tower in Mangaluru. The protesters demanded the withdrawal of SIR, an end to alleged vote theft and the removal of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that the opposition was attempting to overthrow the government, Prakash Raj said, "Yes, we have come to bring down your government. But we are not Nepal, Bangladesh or Pakistan. We will do it peacefully, using the power of the vote and the rights guaranteed to us under the Constitution by Dr B R Ambedkar."
He alleged that SIR was not merely about vote theft but was an attempt to delete votes that had increased in recent elections. He said the fight could be won only through the collective strength of citizens and not by political parties alone.
"Political parties consider people only as voting machines. Prime Minister Modi, you will not remain in power for long. The pot of your sins is full," he said.
Taking aim at the political situation in coastal Karnataka, Prakash Raj alleged that people in the coastal region were being misled and their concerns were being ignored.
"People are being turned into fools and monkeys, with their minds filled with misinformation. What has happened to the health sector, economy and employment opportunities for the youth in Dakshina Kannada? What has happened to communal harmony and peace? These issues will eventually affect you too. It is our youth who are in jail, and people must understand this," he said.
He further asserted that voting was a constitutional right and warned the government against attempting to take it away from citizens.
CPM district secretary Muneer Katipalla delivered the introductory address. Leaders of various political parties and organisations, including Padmaraj, M G Hegde, Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, Lakshmeesha Dabbanaladka, Ashraf, V Kukyan, Jayanthi B Shetty and Shekhar Vamanjoor, among others, participated in the programme.
DYFI district president Manoj Vamanjoor compered the programme, while Santhosh Bajal proposed the vote of thanks.