Parakala Prabhakar, husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will participate in the march against SIR on October 23. The protest will include a demand for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.
पत्नी मोदी सरकार में केंद्रीय वित्त मंत्री, SIR के खिलाफ, 23 अक्टूबर मार्च में ज्ञानेश कुमार के इस्तीफे की मांग करेंगे सीतारमण के पति
Headline…
- Parakala Prabhakar to join the anti-SIR march on October 23.
- He will support the demand for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.
- Prakash Raj, Prashant Bhushan, and Abhijit Deepke will also participate in the march.
- Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka of the CJP have been released from jail on bail.
Political economist Parakala Prabhakar will join a nationwide protest on October 23 against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Prabhakar, husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, announced this on social media. The march comes at a time when opposition to the SIR process and the role of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar continues. Several prominent figures are expected to join the protest, including Abhijit Deepke—founder of the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP)—actor Prakash Raj, and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan.
‘A Jantar-Mantar in every street’: Parakala Prabhakar announces the march
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Parakala Prabhakar, husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, wrote: “A Jantar-Mantar in every street! Friday, October 23, 2026—a public march for the restoration of democracy. Let us come together to face this challenge.”
The protest is being organized by the ‘People Against SIR’ coalition. The coalition’s demands include the scrapping of the SIR process and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters are also demanding the reinstatement of eligible voters whose names have been removed from the electoral rolls.
Prakash Raj, Prashant Bhushan, and Abhijit Deepke to participate
Along with Parakala Prabhakar, those set to join the march include CJP founder Abhijit Deepke, actor and social activist Prakash Raj, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, and Neha Bora, president of the All India Students Association (AISA). Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, author and Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, and former JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh are also expected to join the protest. Parties belonging to the INDIA alliance have also been invited to participate, though their involvement has not yet been confirmed.
Parakala Prabhakar has previously been critical of the central government’s policies. Raising questions about the ‘SIR’ (Systematic Identification and Review) process, he has expressed concerns that it could lead to the disenfranchisement of voters. He argues that if the names of eligible voters are removed from the electoral rolls, their participation in the democratic process could be compromised.
Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka released from Tihar Jail
Meanwhile, CJP members Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released from Tihar Jail on Wednesday, after spending about seven days in custody. The court of the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) in New Delhi ordered their release, following the submission of a written apology, an affidavit, and compliance with other stipulated conditions.
The two had been taken into custody for the alleged violation of a bond—a bond intended to ensure the maintenance of peace—in connection with an attempt to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar. Upon their release, the court directed them to adhere to legal procedures and comply with the set conditions. Further proceedings in the matter will continue.
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