SFI, DYFI condemn arrest of protesters demanding election commissioner’s resignation over SIR row

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) have condemned the arrest of their leaders during a students protest outside the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The student group have claimed that Rajya Sabha MPs AA Rahim and Sivadasan, SFI All India President Adarsh M Saji, and several other members were arrested during the protest.

They are demanding the resignation of Kumar due to the controversies around the election commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

They have also alleged that the police personnel used force against the protesters and manhandled women activists, according to an official statement.

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'Grave mismanagement by ECI'

“The police unleashed brutal force against peaceful protesters and arrested SFI Delhi leadership comrades Sooraj Elamon (secretary), Mehina Fathima (joint secretary), Simran (vice president), Anil Sethumadhavan (vice president), Sagar Singal (vice president), Sakhi (secretariat member), and several other activists,” it added.

Students who were protesting to defence democratic rights and demand accountability were met with violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrests, the statement read.

The group further said that the attack on “peaceful” protesters was not just an attack on SFI and DYFI, it was on the democratic foundation of the republic.

“When citizens demand an impartial Election Commission and transparent elections, the government's response cannot be lathis, physical violence and arrests. The Election Commission must remain accountable to the Constitution and the people, not function as an instrument of the ruling dispensation,” it said.

As per the protesting students’, there is a “grave mismanagement” under Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure, with the political backing of the “Sangh Parivar-led government”. It demands a thorough and impartial investigation.

The students group has demanded an “immediate and unconditional” release of all arrested leaders and activists, strict action against the police personnel responsible for the brutal assault on protesters, and an end to the “suppression” of democratic dissent.