Prakash Raj demands Karnataka scrap SIR voter list over AI concerns

Mysuru: Calling the ongoing SIR of the voter list in Karnataka unconstitutional and demanding ECI scrap it, actor-activist Prakash Raj said he feared voter details could be manipulated during elections using AI technology.He said the state govt would be urged to convene a special session to discuss SIR while submitting a social audit report on the SIR draft roll conducted across Karnataka’s 10 districts by the civil society groups of which he was a part. The report will be submitted on Oct 1.Interacting with voters whose names were removed from the draft list, and who were served notices citing “logical discrepancies” and “no-mapping”, at Rama Govinda Mandira in Ramakrishna Nagar on Tuesday, he said this was the first time voters were being asked to furnish details through a form. Earlier, booth level officers (BLOs) visited homes to update the list, he said. Now, since phone numbers have been collected, it could become easier to manipulate details of voters using AI, he claimed, adding that names could be deleted and added using the technology.“We demand repeal of the entire SIR process, as it is not being done according to principles of the Constitution,” Raj said. Referring to protests over the NEET paper leak by CJP, he said street protests like Gen Z are now necessary to oppose the SIR. He also said citizens and the opposition parties should explore legal options to oppose the SIR with evidence.Among other demands, Raj said opposition leaders in Parliament should move an impeachment motion against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, seek Supreme Court’s intervention to scrap the SIR process, and take possession of Election Commission documents since 2023, and remove judicial immunity for CEC.Raj also highlighted SIR-related issues reported in Belagavi, Mandya and Kodagu, where voters were allegedly removed from the draft list or served SIR notices.On the occasion, four voters described to Raj how they were served SIR notices seeking clarification of identity, despite having filled enumeration forms and correctly mapped themselves with the 2002 electoral roll. A voter claimed there were attempts to remove 21 voters of his joint family in Chamundeshwari constituency. Former IAS officer AB Ibrahim said voters were being “terrorized” by warnings contained in the notices.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mysuru | Silver Rate in Mysuru | Bank Holidays in Mysuru | Public Holidays in MysuruStay updated with the latest Mysuru news. Download the TOI App.