Hubballi: Janapara Sanghatanegala Okkuta organised a protest march on Thursday, demanding nationwide abolition of the special intensive revision (SIR) process and restoration of the traditional intensive revision method. The Prajatantrakkagi Nirbhit Nadige began at Durgad Bail Circle and ended at Dr BR Ambedkar Circle. Protesters raised slogans against the Election Commission of India and sought immediate state intervention to halt the exercise. Several Congress leaders participated. Writer Basavaraj Sullibhavi demanded the removal of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and recovery of Rs 10,000 crore spent by Election Commission on the process. Alleging that legitimate voters had been omitted, speakers demanded cancellation of elections conducted using revised voter lists and fresh polls. Organisers also sought re-polls in states where voters were excluded because of the revision. Protesters claimed the process had disenfranchised nearly one crore voters in Karnataka, reducing the voter tally from 5.5 crore to 4.5 crore. They alleged that daily-wage workers, Dalits, women and minorities were disproportionately affected under the guise of removing illegal immigrants. The organisers submitted a memorandum to President of India through Hubballi tahasildar Mahesh Gaste.
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