Cockroach Janta Party backs INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally against SIR

New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party has announced its support for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally, calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In a statement, the party alleged that the SIR exercise had raised serious concerns about the removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls, undermining the principle of universal adult suffrage.

“The fundamental principle of democracy is that people get to choose their government, not that the government gets to choose its voters,” the statement said, arguing that Kumar had lost the trust required to oversee free and fair elections.

The party said his resignation was necessary to restore the credibility and independence of the Election Commission.

Invoking the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar and India’s Constitution, the Cockroach Janta Party said the country’s constitutional founders had placed their faith in the people by guaranteeing every adult citizen the right to vote, irrespective of caste, religion, gender, education or economic background.

It argued that the purpose of universal adult suffrage was to expand democratic participation rather than exclude citizens from the electoral process.

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The statement also criticised the SIR exercise, alleging that it risked creating obstacles for eligible voters instead of protecting their democratic rights.

“The Election Commission's responsibility is to protect every eligible citizen's right to vote, not create obstacles to exercising it,” the party said.

Reiterating its support for organisations campaigning for free and fair elections, the Cockroach Janta Party said it would stand with those seeking to protect citizens’ voting rights.

The INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally comes amid opposition concerns over the electoral roll revision process and its potential impact on voters’ access to the ballot.