Thackeray brothers lead Mumbai march against CEC over SIR; FIR registered against organisers
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray lead a massive march in Mumbai against the CEC over electoral roll revisions. FIR registered against organisers.
In a rare show of political unity, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray joined forces on Sunday to lead a massive protest march in Mumbai. The demonstration, aimed at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, targeted the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the leaders claim is a direct assault on democratic rights.
Massive March Towards BMC Headquarters
The joint protest saw a significant turnout as the Thackeray brothers led supporters toward the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters. The march was fueled by allegations of widespread irregularities in the electoral roll revision process. However, the demonstration faced immediate legal repercussions, with the Mumbai Police registering an offence against the organisers at the Azad Maidan Police Station.
Uddhav Thackeray Slams "Dictatorship"
Addressing the crowd, Uddhav Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the Central leadership and the functioning of the Election Commission. He described the current situation as an attempt to "overthrow" democracy and accused the authorities of acting like dictators.
"We are standing here today to overthrow the dictator," Thackeray declared, making several serious allegations:
- Mass Deletions: He claimed that the names of approximately 13 crore people have been deleted from electoral rolls across India, citing similar exclusions in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
- Questioning Appointments: Thackeray questioned the legitimacy of Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment as CEC, specifically criticizing the removal of the Chief Justice of India from the appointment committee.
- Threat to Citizenship: He alleged that the powers exercised through the Election Commission are being used to undermine citizens' voting rights, questioning if the Home Ministry is using the CEC to effectively cancel citizenship rights.
- Historical Comparisons: In a sharp jibe at the Centre, he compared the current leadership to Hitler, warning that those acting arbitrarily would eventually face the consequences of the law.
Thackeray also took aim at the BJP, accusing them of "vote chori" (vote theft) and pivoting from the former "India Against Corruption" movement to what he termed "India Against Vote Chors." He further challenged the Centre on border security, asking how illegal entries could occur if the borders are under central control.
Raj Thackeray Demands Cancellation of SIR
Raj Thackeray focused his criticism on the technicalities of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) currently being conducted in Maharashtra. He demanded an immediate halt to the entire exercise, questioning the legal grounds for its implementation.
"Our demand is that the entire SIR conducted in Maharashtra should be cancelled," Raj Thackeray stated. He highlighted several concerns regarding the scale of the revision:
- Legal Validity: He noted that according to law, an SIR should typically only be conducted in emergency situations.
- Voter Manipulation: He alleged that while 40 to 60 lakh voters were added during the Maharashtra Assembly elections to capture power, the current SIR is being used to remove nearly two crore voters. "Who are these two crore voters?" he asked rhetorically.
- Call for Ballot Papers: In a significant policy demand, Raj Thackeray called for the discontinuation of voting machines and urged all political parties to demand a return to ballot paper-based elections.
Sharad Pawar Backs the Movement
The protest received crucial backing from Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. Speaking at a press conference, Pawar emphasized that the grievances regarding the electoral process are not confined to Mumbai but are being felt across the entirety of Maharashtra. He called for political parties to unite to find a solution to these alleged irregularities and take decisive action against the perceived flaws in the electoral system.
While the Opposition continues to allege massive irregularities, the Election Commission has maintained that the SIR is a standard procedure intended to clean and update electoral rolls, providing established mechanisms for citizens to raise claims and objections.