Dhruv Rathee to join India’s electoral roll protests in Bengaluru

YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee is set to participate in a “People’s Tribunal” in Bengaluru on Thursday as opposition parties and civil society groups intensify protests against India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, The Hindu reported.

The tribunal, organised by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), All India Students’ Association (AISA) and other student organisations, will feature people from across Karnataka who describe themselves as “victims of SIR”. Actor Prakash Raj is also expected to participate in the event.

Rathee’s participation has drawn attention as the prominent YouTuber has built a large following through political commentary and criticism of the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rathee initially supported Modi and welcomed his rise to power in 2014. However, he became increasingly critical of the government after disagreements over issues including corruption and the confrontation between the BJP-led central government and the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi.

He uploaded his first political commentary video in 2016, focusing on the BJP’s IT cell and the alleged use of manipulated information and misinformation to shape political narratives, according to Al Jazeera.

Since then, Rathee has become one of India’s most prominent political YouTubers, producing hundreds of videos on Indian politics and other public issues. His videos have often attracted millions of views.

The Bengaluru event comes amid wider opposition mobilisation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise.

INDIA bloc MPs are also planning a larger protest on Thursday after opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were stopped from reaching Jantar Mantar during a mobilisation on Wednesday.

Rahul Gandhi said the opposition would continue its campaign until Gyanesh Kumar resigns, while opposition parties have called for an overhaul of India’s electoral system.

The Congress has also called on its state units to observe Thursday as a “black day” and hold protests over the Delhi Police’s handling of opposition leaders.

Opposition parties are separately seeking a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu over their concerns, with a delegation of opposition leaders expected to meet her.