Published Oct 20, 2026 | 6:46 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 20, 2026 | 6:50 PM
Nine organisations have joined hands under the banner ‘Chennai’s Jantar Mantar 2.0’.
Synopsis: Nine organisations under the banner ‘Chennai’s Jantar Mantar 2.0’ will hold a 24-hour protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls near Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai from 4 pm on 22 October, despite the police denying permission. DYFI State secretary S Karthi accused the Tamil Nadu Police of restricting democratic protests and asked why permission was being denied when a State Minister had joined an INDIA bloc protest against SIR.
The 24-hour protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will go ahead as planned in Chennai on Thursday, 22 October, despite the police denying permission, the organisers of ‘Chennai’s Jantar Mantar 2.0’ announced on Tuesday.
Nine organisations, including the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Youth Federation (AIYF), All India Students’ Federation (AISF), Cockroach (CJP), All India Students’ Association (AISA), Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA), All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) and All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO), have joined hands under the banner.
The organisations had sought permission to hold the protest near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore from 4 pm on 22 October to 4 pm on 23 October. The police denied permission, DYFI State secretary S Karthi said at a press conference at the Chennai Press Club on Tuesday.
“The police did not grant permission when we protested against irregularities in the NEET examination. Now, they are denying permission for a protest against SIR as well. The police are refusing to allow democratic protests. Although the TVK opposes NEET and SIR, permission to protest democratically is being denied. The protest will take place as planned, defying the police restrictions,” Karthi said.
He appealed to film personalities, writers and people from all sections of society to support the protest.
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Students and youth across the country have been protesting, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the withdrawal of SIR, the restoration of 13 crore deleted voters to electoral rolls and a return to the earlier procedures for appointing Election Commissioners.
The Chennai organisers also alleged that Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, under Union Home Minister Amit Shah, had unleashed repression against protesters in the national capital.
Accusing the Tamil Nadu Police of suppressing protests in the same manner as the Delhi Police, Karthi questioned the denial of permission for a democratic protest against SIR when a Tamil Nadu Minister had participated in a protest organised by the INDIA bloc against the exercise.
He demanded a response from Chief Minister Vijay, who holds the Home portfolio, and questioned why Ministers Rajmohan and Nirmalkumar had made contradictory statements on SIR.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
