Prakash Raj is asking people in Bengaluru to show up in large numbers on October 8, 2026, for a mass chappal protest and People’s Tribunal at Freedom Park. The event, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party and its founder Abhijeet Dipke, is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am.
The actor-activist took to X on Wednesday morning with a direct appeal to the public, saying the tribunal would bring together people affected by the SIR process from across Karnataka. He described the day as “the most important protest” and linked the campaign to a larger question about democracy.
Why the Bengaluru event matters
The SIR issue has been building for weeks. The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged discrepancies in electoral rolls, and some residents say they were wrongfully removed from the voters’ list. Prakash Raj’s post gives that conversation a well-known face and a big-city platform.
The Bengaluru tribunal is positioned as a space where people affected by SIR can share their experiences publicly. Dipke has already left for Bengaluru and is expected to hold an interaction with local residents before Thursday’s protest.
Who is involved
- Prakash Raj: the actor-activist urging people to join the protest and teasing a “special guest” announcement by evening.
- Abhijeet Dipke: CJP founder, organising the People’s Tribunal and the chappal protest.
- Saurav Das: named by Prakash Raj as one of the participants at Freedom Park.
- Celebrity support: an earlier October 2 Mumbai rally drew Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Vishal Bhardwaj and Vishal Dadlani.
What has been said
Prakash Raj said the effort is “not just the question of vote” but “an attempt to kill democracy, our constitution”. He asked people to walk in and stand in solidarity. Dipke struck a similarly personal note, saying participants were not alone and that the larger goal was a country where young people can raise their voices without parents fearing for their safety.
What comes next
After Bengaluru, the campaign moves to Delhi on October 10, where Dipke is scheduled to hold a protest and seek the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The CJP has already warned of “Jantar Mantar 2.0” if he does not step down.
For celebrity-watchers, this is also a signal: actors are moving from statements to on-ground organising. The next few days will show whether that energy travels from Mumbai to Bengaluru and then to Delhi.
Source: Hindustan Times
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