On Friday, 23 October, a dharna satyagraha titled “Jantar Mantar” was organised near the historic Clock Tower in Mangaluru. The protest formed part of a nationwide movement against SIR and was led by the Save Democracy Movement D.K. District, a coalition of secular parties and like‑minded organisations in the district.
MLC Ivan D'Souza addressed the assembled crowd, saying it is tragic that High Court and Supreme Court judges, as well as Election Commission commissioners, appear to bow before the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. He urged participants to become guardians of the constitution and to sustain the fight against SIR.
Vinod Mascarenhas, convener of the Save Democracy Movement and a practising advocate, warned that authorities are preventing protestors from travelling to the original Jantar Mantar site. “The entire country is turning into Jantar Mantar,” he declared, adding that the names of more than 13 crore eligible voters have been removed from the electoral roll. Mascarenhas pledged that the struggle will continue against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whom he holds responsible for the deletions.
Leaders from several parties and civic groups joined the dharna, including Ashraf Addoor, Athaulla Jokatte, Jafar Sadiq Faizi, Shahida Tasneem, Ansar Bajal, Mohan K.E., Santhosh D'Souza, Ameen Ahsan, Ayesha Yasmeen, Zahid Malar and Beary Sahitya Academy President Umar U.H. Anwar Sadath Bajathoor, co‑convener of the Save Democracy Movement D.K. District, welcomed the gathering and reiterated the demand for safeguarding democratic rights.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK