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Global Media Tracks Protests Over India’s Election Commission
India is changing its lists of people who can vote.
This process is called the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
Many people’s names have been removed, and some have appealed to be added back.
Opposition groups are protesting and asking election chief Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Some international news outlets report concerns that the process could unfairly affect particular groups or change election results.
The article also says police used tear gas, water cannons and detentions during protests.
India’s Election Commission says its motto is that no voter should be left behind, as cited in the article.
People around the world are watching to see whether trust in India’s elections is maintained.
International outlets including The New York Times, The Economist, the BBC and the Financial Times have reported on protests against the Election Commission of India and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protests center on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the article says led to millions of names being deleted.
The article reports that nearly 13.3 crore names were deleted nationally, while more than 22 lakh people appealed exclusions after over 91 lakh names were removed in a cited SIR exercise.
Some coverage and opposition figures have raised concerns that deletions could disproportionately affect Muslims and influence election outcomes; the article presents these as concerns, not established findings.
The Financial Times reported police use of tear gas, water cannons and detentions during protests, which the article says are gaining momentum ahead of state elections.
- Who
- Protesters, opposition parties, the Election Commission of India and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- What
- Protests are calling for Kumar’s resignation and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- Across India.
- When
- The protests are ongoing; the article says they are gaining momentum ahead of key state elections.
- Why
- Protesters and critics object to voter-roll deletions and raise concerns about their effects on voting rights and election outcomes.
Key facts
- Election chief
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Electoral-roll exercise
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
- Reported deletions
- The article says nearly 13.3 crore names were deleted nationally.
- Appeals
- More than 22 lakh people filed appeals after over 91 lakh names were removed in a cited SIR exercise.
- Protest demands
- Calls for Kumar’s resignation and a halt to the SIR process.
- Police response reported
- Tear gas, water cannons and detentions across states.
- Next national election
- The article says the next national election is in 2029.
Quotes
The New York Times
US newspaper cited for its reporting on India’s voter-list revision.
“Nearly a billion people in the world’s biggest democracy are being asked to show documents to prove that they should keep the right to vote. India’s poorest citizens are forced to choose between multiple visits to polling officers and earning a daily wage.”
telegraphindia.com
“But in 2023 the BJP defied a Supreme Court order and passed a law that in effect lets the government impose its nominees.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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