Bagepalli, 26 September

Noted actor Prakash Raj on Saturday was prevented from taking part in the stage programme of an event organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in Chikkaballapur district. The activist has been touring the State to “socially audit” the SIR process and has flagged the high ASDO numbers. 

The three-day State-level-event organized by DYFI to commemorate the 13th anniversary of its founding was to be inaugurated by Raj and another star, Kishore, at the HN Circle in Bagepalli. 

However, as the Model Code of Conduct was in force, the taluk administration instructed the organisers to furnish an undertaking letter stating that Prakash Raj, who is a “part-time politician”, would not be allowed to speak.  

Both Raj and Kishore jointly inaugurated the procession and left without speaking.  

‘SIR CAUSING TRAUMA’

Prakash Raj has also been sharing videos on his X, alleging that the SIR process is causing “trauma” to helpless citizens. In one video, he interviewed a woman in Kalaburagi who claimed that officials had mapped her address incorrectly, and when she approached them to rectify the error, they didn’t put it properly. 

Raj noted that nomadic communities and people living in slums faced greater risk of being deleted, even though they’ve voted for many years. And as many of the people were illiterate, it was becoming a bigger issue. 

“The only proof many people have of their citizenship is their voter ID,” Raj said. 

He also claimed that State Chief Electoral Officer Anbu Kumar was lying when the latter said that enumeration forms have been distributed to everyone. In an interview with another woman in Kalaburagi, Raj said that her name had been marked for deletion and that she never even got an enumeration form.