Panjab University student groups hold ‘Pulse Protest’ demanding removal of CEC, ban on EVMs
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, October 7, 2026: Various student organisations at Panjab University held a five-minute “Pulse Protest” on Wednesday, raising demands including the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, a ban on what they described as “hackable” Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and revocation of “fraudulent” Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercises.
The protest was jointly organised by PSU (Lalkar), SATH, AISA, SFS, Disha and Dialectica Students Association, according to the organisers.
The demonstration was part of the second phase of a campaign being conducted under the banner of Mission Save Constitution, which has called for nationwide “pulse protests” against the use of EVMs and raised concerns over electoral processes.
Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, Punjab coordinator of Mission Save Constitution and president of Lok-Raj Punjab, said five-minute protests would be organised regularly at public places, including during lunch and tea breaks, to encourage wider participation.
The organisers said similar demonstrations would be held at universities, colleges, schools, government and private offices, markets, mandis, hospitals, courts, bus stands and other public places.
A nationwide call for the protests has been given by Supreme Court senior advocate Mehmood Pracha, national convener of Mission Save Constitution.
The campaigners have alleged that EVMs are vulnerable to hacking and have questioned the functioning of the Election Commission of India. They have also called for the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of SIR exercises that they have termed fraudulent.
These claims and allegations are those of the protest organisers and have not been established as findings against the Election Commission or the electoral system.
Randhawa said the organisers intended to continue the short-duration demonstrations as part of their campaign to mobilise public support around their demands.