Following a massive demonstration led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which drew thousands of protesters to the streets of Delhi in July and led to the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam irregularities and paper leak allegations, the party has announced a fresh protest for October 10. This time, they are seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations surrounding the SIR process.
The ECI-SIR row began after a report by The Indian Express, which claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months regarding decisions on electoral rolls, voter registration, and the Commission’s technology systems.
However, the Election Commission has rejected suggestions of a split within the three-member panel, stating that all its decisions, including those concerning the SIR, were taken unanimously.
The Daily Jagran spoke with a few GenZs to understand how they view the EC-SIR row amid the demands for the CEC's resignation.
'Transparency is Key'
A student in his 20s, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "The demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation is valid. As per the news report, he ignored the suggestions and objections raised by the other two election commissioners and made unilateral decisions. Kumar has also remained silent on objections raised by the Opposition, especially Rahul Gandhi. Last year, the EC temporarily closed the data of multiple states, which suggests they are hiding something."
He noted that during the SIR process, the names of 97 eligible voters were removed from the voter list in Goa, and the Commission allegedly ignored Supreme Court guidelines in West Bengal as well.
Seeking transparency and accountability, he added, "As a youth, I want the institutions of this country to be fair and transparent. Kumar must resign and take accountability. However, only his resignation won't help; we need systemic changes. First, we must implement the Supreme Court's suggestions regarding the selection of the CEC. This would make the electoral process much fairer and more transparent."
'We may not all follow politics closely, but we definitely care'
Sakshi Bansal, 26, a GenZ content creator, also shared her thoughts. Having previously joined the July 20 protest during the NEET paper leak issue, she says she will be joining this time as well.
"As GenZ, I think we need to care about this protest because our vote is literally our voice in a democracy. Whether you support the government or the opposition, every eligible citizen should have an equal and fair opportunity to vote. The SIR controversy raises critical questions about whether eligible citizens are being left out and whether the process is transparent enough."
"We may not all follow politics closely, but we definitely care about having a say in who runs our country," she added.
'A Matter of Electoral Integrity'
Tejaswi Singh, a 24-year-old researcher, offered a different angle. She noted that the SIR is fundamentally a matter of electoral integrity rather than a simple question of voter exclusion, given its objective to remove deceased voters, duplicate entries, and individuals no longer eligible.
"What is the problem if the ECI has itself said that the decision was unanimously taken? But that doesn't answer the separate questions raised by the Commissioners about particular administrative decisions. I believe the ECI must do a press briefing to answer. Because what are the odds that a new chief after Kumar's resignation won't be "biased"? she asked.
Gulam Waris, a PHD student and Convenor SLL&CS at JNU, said, “The vote theft happening through SIR and the attack on democratic rights is impacting many GenZ voters who have just turned 18, and they have already opened a front against the government.”
A 23-year-old student, who did not wish to be named, gave a balanced view on the issue. She said that courts should take cognisance of these matters and fast-track the trials so that eligible voters are not disfranchised.
"The matter has already reached the Supreme Court and it should take this matter on priority. No one is guilty until proven, but if these allegations are true, then those responsible for the process should be held accountable. The courts play an important role in this issue as they can save eligible people from losing their voting rights," she said.
With the opposition breathing down the Centre's neck over the ECI-SIR controversy, and pressure groups like CJP teaming up with Gen Z on the streets, the message from India's youth is loud and clear--'the right to vote is non-negotiable'. All eyes are now on the October 10 protest to see what happens next.