Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Ami Goenche Rakhandar (AGR) has announced a mega protest at Azad Maidan on October 10, 2026, demanding the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a ban on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Announcing the protest at a press conference held at Azad Maidan, AGR alleged that recent developments concerning the Election Commission have raised serious questions about the functioning of the electoral process.
The organisation, citing a recent investigative report published by The Indian Express, alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar had sidelined the other two Election Commissioners and taken decisions favouring the ruling political establishment.
AGR further alleged that the SIR exercise in states including Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal was being used to remove voters from electoral rolls. The organisation also claimed that the exercise had adversely affected legitimate voters and alleged that 97 voters from Goa had been removed from the electoral roll.
The organisation levelled several other allegations against the Election Commission, including claims of selective action against Opposition parties and failure to act against the BJP over alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct and the distribution of money during elections.
AGR said it viewed SIR, EVMs and the functioning of the present CEC as serious concerns for democracy and called for public participation in the October 10 protest.
Leaders of political parties, activists, advocates, environmentalists, doctors, NGOs, civil society representatives, students and members of Gen Z attended the press conference and expressed solidarity with the proposed protest.
The speakers appealed to people across Goa to participate in the mega protest and support the demands raised by AGR.
The organisation said the October 10 demonstration would focus on three principal demands: scrapping SIR, the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and a ban on EVMs.
