Thu Feb 12 07:13:46 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Activist Shiv Sundar Condemns India’s Special Intensive Revision as Unconstitutional Citizenship Verification

The Story:

Activist and writer Shiv Sundar has denounced the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) program as a violation of the Indian Constitution. Speaking at a workshop in Vijayapura, Karnataka on February 11, 2026, Sundar argued that the SIR is being used to verify citizenship, a power not granted to the ECI under the Constitution or the Representation of People’s Act, and is instead the purview of special tribunals. He further accused the government of using SIR as a facade for implementing a National Register of Citizens (NRC) indirectly, a move he claims threatens the rights of marginalized communities.

Key Points:

  • Activist Shiv Sundar criticized the ECI’s SIR program as unconstitutional and a violation of existing laws.
  • Sundar claimed the ECI is verifying citizenship through SIR, a power he says resides solely with special tribunals.
  • He accused the government of using SIR as a cover for implementing a National Register of Citizens (NRC) indirectly.
  • Sundar stated that the Constitution is an obstacle to “Fascist forces” attempting to create a Brahmin-Hindu corporatist state.
  • He warned that if the SIR is carried out nationwide, an estimated 25 crore Indians could be deprived of citizenship.
  • He called for a mass movement, similar to the freedom movement, to reverse this alleged conspiracy.
  • He also said the ECI is using flimsy reasons to demand proof of citizenship, disproportionately affecting poor and marginalized populations.
  • Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the Congress does not view SIR as a political issue.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SIR program is facing significant opposition due to concerns about its constitutionality and potential for disenfranchisement.
  • Accusations of the government using the SIR to indirectly implement the NRC raise serious questions about the protection of citizenship rights.
  • The debate highlights the ongoing tension between national security concerns and the protection of individual liberties, particularly for marginalized communities.
  • The criticism of Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suggests internal political divisions on the issue.
  • Activist Shiv Sundar’s call for a mass movement indicates the potential for widespread social unrest if these concerns are not addressed.

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