The INDIA bloc will hold a protest at Bengaluru's Freedom Park on November 5 against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the BJP of misusing constitutional institutions to undermine democracy, the leaders announced on Tuesday.The demonstration is part of the Opposition alliance's nationwide agitation against the SIR exercise and its demand for Kumar's resignation.Addressing a press conference at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office, state Congress chief BK Hariprasad said the November 5 protest would be a continuation of the agitation organised by the INDIA bloc at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1.He said INDIA bloc leaders had decided to intensify the agitation across the country and take it to the taluk and block levels, news agency Press Trust of India reported. "In Karnataka, we have decided to begin with a state-level protest in Bengaluru, followed by demonstrations at the district and taluk levels," Hariprasad said.Alleging that the BJP and RSS were attempting to undermine democracy by misusing constitutional institutions, he said the agitation would continue until Kumar resigned. "The fight will continue until the CEC steps down. After the state-level protest, we will take the agitation to the district and taluk levels," Hariprasad added.CPI(M) state secretary K Prakash said the INDIA bloc was demanding the scrapping of the SIR exercise, Kumar's resignation and changes to the process of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner."Our demands include scrapping the SIR exercise, ensuring the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and making the appointment process of the CEC democratic.
The selection process should be conducted in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court," he said.Prakash also demanded the withdrawal of the law granting permanent immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner."These are our key demands, and we are taking to the streets on November 5 to press for them," he said.He said all constituents of the INDIA bloc would participate in the agitation, which would subsequently be expanded to district and taluk levels across Karnataka."Safeguarding democracy is our responsibility. The INDIA bloc has decided to take this movement forward on a wider scale," Prakash said.He further alleged that the BJP was attempting to turn India into an authoritarian state and establish a communal Hindutva nation."We want to send a clear message that there is no place in this country for attempts to transform India into an authoritarian state or build a communal Hindutva nation," he said.CPI leader Saathi Sundaresh, Forward Bloc leaders Mahantesh Shivashankar and Ali, and CPI(ML) leader Clifton D'Rozario were also present at the press conference.The November 5 demonstration will mark the beginning of the INDIA bloc's state-level agitation in Karnataka, with protests planned at district and taluk levels in the subsequent phases.- Ends