Bengaluru: At a public awareness programme organised by the Karnataka Muslim United Front, speakers and participants unanimously warned that the proposed Citizenship Verification Register (SIR) poses a grave and unprecedented threat to Indian democracy, constitutional freedoms, and the fundamental right to vote.
They cautioned that recent actions by the central government and the Election Commission suggest a coordinated effort to remove from the voter rolls minorities, marginalised communities, and individuals critical of the ruling ideology.
High Court senior advocate Vinay Srinivasan said: “For the first time in independent India, citizens are being asked to prove that they are eligible voters in their own country. Earlier, the Election Commission conducted door-to-door voter registration. But under SIR, citizens’ rights are being restricted. This process is opaque and runs contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.”
He emphasised the need for a planned and state-wide awareness campaign to educate people about the implications of SIR.
Social activist and columnist Shiv Sundar said it would be a mistake to view SIR as a Muslim-specific issue.
“SIR affects the entire country. The experience of Bihar shows that the Election Commission now holds excessive powers, enabling the exclusion of government critics and vulnerable communities from voter lists,” he said, adding that only largescale democratic resistance can stop this process.
Participants Declare SIR a Severe Threat to Indian Democracy
Speakers and participants jointly asserted that SIR is “a serious assault on democratic rights”, and stressed that collective, peaceful protest is essential to prevent the erosion of universal suffrage.
Participants proposed several practical steps to counter the risks posed by SIR:
- Formation of committees at neighbourhood, ward, and booth levels;
- Awareness campaigns in mosques, temples, churches, gurdwaras, and community centres;
- Engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, and groups representing all communities;
- Special training sessions to help citizens update and secure personal documents;
- Preparation of literature and guidance material on SIR; and
- Formation of a coordinated pressure group to advocate at the state level.
Urgent Call for Document Preparedness
Speakers urged citizens to immediately update and secure essential documents such as Aadhaar, ration cards, birth certificates, residence proofs, voter IDs, passports, and school records.
They, however, warned: “Even complete documentation may not guarantee protection from exclusion, because the current approach of the government and the Election Commission suggests an attempt to dilute the voting rights of minorities and those opposed to the ruling ideology.”
Leadership Calls for Unity and Joint Action
Convener Masood Abdul Qadir, in his presidential address, said the issue demands a joint struggle by Muslims and all sections of society. “SIR is not a community-specific concern; it is a national democratic concern. Awareness and document preparedness are essential, but so is collective civic action,” he said.
Co-convener Mohammad Yusuf Kanni, in his opening remarks, cited the Bihar experience and stressed that a state-wide, coordinated campaign is now indispensable. The programme began with recitation of the Qur’an by Hafiz Abdul Salam Umri.
The gathering witnessed participation from a wide spectrum of religious, social, and community leaders, including Dr. Balgami Mohammed Saad, Ameer-e-Halqa, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Karnataka; Maulana Abdul Rahim Rashidi, President, Jamiat Ulama-e-Karnataka; and Tanveer Ahmed Sharif; Mansoor Ahmed (Dadu Bhai), Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith; Scholars from Ahl-e-Sunnat wal-Jamaat: Maulana Zulfiqar Ahmed Noori Naqshbandi, Maulana Waheeduddin Khan Umri Madani, Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Nadwi; Anees Ahmed, Jamia Bilal; Community leaders: Allah Bakhsh Ada al-Amri, Mohammed Ziaullah Khan, Ejaz Ahmed, Tafheemullah Maroof, Dr. Naseem Ahmed, Mohammed Ismail (State General Secretary), Mohammed Hayan (State Secretary, SIO); and representatives of the Mosques Federation and several other organisations.
Unanimous Resolution
The meeting concluded with a collective declaration that: “Preventing the damaging consequences of SIR requires united, organised, and sustained public action. Every citizen must prioritise the correction of personal documents and participate actively in democratic efforts to resist SIR.”
