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U.S. Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over Massive Voter-Roll Deletions in India
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Congressional Concern Over Indian Voter Roll Deletions
She framed the issue as comparable to efforts she said the Trump administration had taken in the United States and expressed support for non-violent protests against what she described as “anti-democratic efforts” in India.
Scope of the Reported Deletions
The Election Commission of India (ECI) disclosed that roughly 7.2 crore (72 million) names were removed during the first two phases of the Supplementary Incremental Roll (SIR) covering 13 states and union territories. In the ongoing third phase, which involves draft lists for 18 states and union territories, an additional 6.16 crore (61.6 million) names have been deleted, bringing the total reported deletions to about 13 crore (130 million) voters.
Election Commission’s Remedy Process
The ECI stated that voters whose names were inadvertently omitted can pursue reinstatement through a two-step claims and objections procedure, followed by filing Form 6 to request inclusion on the final electoral roll. No further details on the timeline or success rate of these remedies were provided.
Official Statements & Responses
Jayapal’s remarks constitute the first public comment by a U.S. lawmaker on the Indian voter-roll issue. She emphasized the importance of protecting democratic processes worldwide and pledged solidarity with Indian citizens engaging in peaceful protest. The ECI’s response was limited to outlining the procedural avenue for affected voters, without commenting on the political implications of the deletions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am deeply concerned about the actions of the Indian government to purge 130 million people from the voting rolls,” — S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
- “Non-violent resistance movements are essential in these moments, and I stand with the Indian people who are engaging in non-violent protests to counter anti-democratic efforts in India,” — Ms. Jayapal