Mangaluru: Actor Prakash Raj on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Union government during the ‘Janata Nadige’ (People’s March) in Mangaluru, declaring that the ongoing struggle over alleged vote theft was also a fight to bring down the government through democratic means.
The march, organised by a joint platform of secular parties and organisations, was held from Ambedkar Circle to Clock Tower. It demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in connection with the controversy over the electoral process and alleged attempts to delete voters’ names.
Addressing participants, Prakash Raj said the movement was not limited to opposing a particular electoral exercise but was aimed at challenging the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he described as being inspired by the RSS.
‘We will bring down the government through votes’
Responding to Modi’s reported remarks that the opposition’s struggle was aimed at toppling his government, Prakash Raj said the protesters were indeed seeking a change of government, but through democratic means.
“Modi has remarked that our struggle is aimed at toppling his government. Yes, we have indeed come to topple your government. But we are not like Nepal, Bangladesh or Pakistan; we have come to uproot this ‘Ranga-Billa’ BJP government through love and by exercising the right to vote granted by the Constitution of Ambedkar,” he said.
He also accused the BJP leadership of attempting to undermine the electoral process and referred to Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as the ‘Ranga-Billa’ duo. He alleged that they had been caught while attempting to destroy evidence.
Prakash Raj alleges attempt to erase votes
Questioning the electoral exercise, the actor alleged that it was intended to remove votes added during recent elections and described the issue as vote theft.
“Sir, isn’t this simply vote theft? It has been introduced to erase the votes that were added during the recent elections. That is why we are fighting against it,” he said.
Prakash Raj maintained that the struggle could succeed only through public participation and not through political parties alone. He alleged that political parties often viewed citizens merely as voting machines.
“To all political parties, we are nothing more than voting machines. Mr Modi, you will not remain in power for much longer—your cup of sins is full,” he said.
He urged citizens to recognise the importance of protecting their voting rights and participate in the movement.
Raises concerns over coastal Karnataka
Prakash Raj also turned his attention to the situation in Dakshina Kannada, questioning the district’s health and economic conditions, employment opportunities for young people and the state of social harmony.
He accused political leaders of misleading people in the coastal region and expressed concern over the consequences of divisive politics.
“They are turning the people of the coastal region into fools and monkeys, filling their brains with cow dung. What has become of the health and economic situation in Dakshina Kannada district, and what about employment for the youth? What has happened to social harmony?” he asked.
He further warned that young people were facing legal consequences amid the prevailing political and social tensions, and urged them to understand the implications.
Concluding his remarks, Prakash Raj reiterated that the right to vote was guaranteed by the Constitution and should not be taken away.
“Voting is our right; do not attempt to take it away,” he asserted.
Leaders from various organisations participate
Several political and organisational representatives took part in the march. Those present included Padmaraj R., M.G. Hegde, Dinesh Hegde Ulepadi, Lakshmisha Dabbaladka, Ashraf, V. Kukyan, Jayanthi B. Shetty and Shekhar Vamanjoor.
The march brought together representatives of secular political parties and organisations, with the demand for accountability in the electoral process forming the central theme of the gathering.