Sri Vijaya Puram, October 23: As part of the nationwide agitation by trade unions, farmers, youth, students, etc., the CITU Andaman and Nicobar State Committee organised a mass demonstration near the Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) Municipal Council at Aberdeen Bazar, Port Blair, this evening, demanding the resignation of Mr. Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner, the scrapping of SIR, etc.
Addressing the participants in the mass demonstration, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU State Committee, briefly explained the countrywide agitation launched by trade unions, farmers’ organisations and students and youth against the large-scale removal of voters from the electoral rolls through SIR. He said that democratic movements are being suppressed by the Modi government.
Speaking on the occasion, R. Surendran Pillai, President, CITU State Committee, expressed concern over the removal of thousands of voters from the electoral rolls of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands during the SIR. The demands of the nationwide agitation include (1) resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, CEC; (2) scrap the illegal SIR and conduct periodic revisions as earlier; (3) repeal the EC’s Appointment Law and ensure the EC’s autonomy; and (4) comprehensive electoral reforms – proportional representation, curbs on money and muscle power, state funding, etc.
Anand Rajan, Treasurer, and M. Yugander, Secretary, CITU State Committee, and Venkat Rao, Secretary, ASNVMS, also addressed the gathering. R. Rajendran, Secretary, CITU State Committee, and other leaders were also present.
A large number of workers from various unions of Port Blair town and rural South Andaman attended the programme.
