On October 22, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for farmers’ protest marches on October 23, demanding the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the removal and prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and the restoration of voting rights for 13.41 crore citizens whose names, it alleges, were removed from electoral rolls without transparency.
In a press release issued in New Delhi on October 22, 2026, SKM said its member organisations would submit a memorandum addressed to President Droupadi Murmu through district magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates at district and tehsil centres. It also announced demonstrations at district and tehsil headquarters, state capitals and New Delhi.
The memorandum states that farmers are uniting to protect democracy and the right to vote of all citizens, and seeks the President’s immediate intervention.
Demand to scrap SIR and act against the CEC
SKM demanded the immediate annulment of SIR and accused Gyanesh Kumar of violating his constitutional pledge. It alleged that genuine citizens had been deleted from electoral rolls to help the ruling BJP retain power and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was protecting the Chief Election Commissioner.
Demanding Kumar’s removal and prosecution, the memorandum described the situation as a constitutional standoff. It maintained that Parliament alone holds the power to formally change the rulebook and argued that the Prime Minister could not resolve the standoff without parliamentary action to remove the CEC.
Changes to the selection panel and electoral reforms
The farmers’ platform also demanded an amendment to the 2023 Act governing the selection of election commissioners. It sought the inclusion of the Chief Justice of India on the selection panel in place of the Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
Alongside these demands, SKM called for comprehensive electoral reforms to introduce proportional representation, curb money and muscle power, and legalise state funding of elections.
Restore Jantar Mantar as a protest site
The memorandum demanded the immediate revocation of what it described as a Delhi Police order denotifying Jantar Mantar as a designated site for peaceful protest.
SKM said the right to protest is a fundamental right and that attacks on peaceful protesters violate the Constitution and the rule of law.
Support for students and youth protesting against SIR
Expressing support for those protesting against SIR, particularly students and youth, SKM said the October 23 demonstrations would also protest the alleged suppression and torture of protesters, including young women students, in New Delhi.
The organisation accused Delhi Police personnel and people it described as criminal elements associated with the RSS-BJP of attacking protesters. It also alleged sexual harassment of women students and journalists, calling it “shocking and shameful”.
SKM warned that if attacks on protesters continued, farmers would be forced to come forward to protect them. It urged the President to ensure an investigation, the arrest of those responsible and stringent action against offenders, including police personnel and others involved.
Criticism of the judiciary
The memorandum criticised the judiciary, including the Supreme Court, for not taking suo motu cognisance of the alleged crimes against peaceful protesters in the national capital.
SKM linked this criticism to its demand for protection of the constitutional right to peaceful protest and action against those accused of violence.
Objections to alleged house arrests
SKM also raised concerns over the alleged confinement of political and social activists in their homes to prevent them from joining peaceful protests.
The memorandum asserted that no statutory law or rule explicitly permits police to keep citizens under “house arrest”. It alleged that police, acting under the direction of Home Minister Amit Shah, were entering private homes and placing activists under illegal house arrest, particularly in states governed by what it called “Double Engine Governments”.
Describing these actions as violations of fundamental rights, privacy and democratic freedoms, SKM accused the government of turning India into a “Police State”. It demanded immediate intervention to stop such actions.
The memorandum urged the President to give the demands earnest consideration and initiate appropriate steps without delay.
October 12 meeting set protest dates
At its October 12 meeting in Karnal, Haryana, SKM decided to hold protests on October 23 in support of students and youth opposing SIR.
It also announced demonstrations in New Delhi and across India on November 26, marking six years since the farmers’ struggle at the Delhi borders, and urged farmers to prepare for prolonged protests until their demands are met.
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