Hariprasad Questions CJI’s Role as INDIA Bloc Intensifies Protest Against SIR

Bengaluru/New Delhi, Oct 12 : Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B K Hariprasad on Monday questioned Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s role, urging him to uphold his constitutional responsibility and ensure justice for all citizens amid the INDIA bloc’s escalating protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Hariprasad’s remarks came ahead of the Opposition’s proposed march towards the Supreme Court after the CJI declined a request for a meeting with INDIA bloc leaders and advised them to follow the prescribed legal process.

“The Chief Justice should not behave like a BJP member. He is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and should ensure justice for everyone,” Hariprasad told reporters while participating in the Opposition’s protest in New Delhi.

The INDIA bloc has intensified its confrontation with the Election Commission over the SIR exercise, alleging electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the revision process.

Hariprasad accused Kumar of acting in the interests of the BJP rather than functioning as an impartial constitutional authority.

The Opposition’s march, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, aims to press these demands and highlight alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

Congress MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna expressed concern that the SIR exercise could adversely affect young voters, particularly first-time voters, by potentially excluding them from electoral rolls. He also referred to Form 6, which is used to apply for inclusion in the voters’ list.

Congress MP Praveen Chakravarty said all those who believed in the Constitution were welcome to join the protest, emphasising the need to broaden the movement beyond party lines.

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the agitation would continue until Kumar resigned and those allegedly backing him were identified.

Rahul Gandhi has projected the march as a broader democratic movement rather than merely a political party’s protest, alleging that the Centre had gained political advantage from the SIR exercise.

The latest mobilisation marks a further escalation in the Opposition’s confrontation with the Election Commission over electoral-roll revision, voter inclusion and allegations of electoral malpractice.

Earlier, INDIA bloc leaders submitted a memorandum containing four demands to President Droupadi Murmu, raising concerns over electoral reforms and alleged vote manipulation.