Pramila Jayapal raises concerns over 130 million voter deletions in India

US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has expressed concern regarding reports that approximately 130 million voter names have been removed from draft electoral rolls in India. Jayapal, a Democratic representative from Washington state, stated on social media that the actions of the Indian government appear to follow a “similar playbook” to efforts in the United States to undermine voting rights.

Jayapal voiced support for non-violent protests aimed at countering what she described as “anti-democratic efforts in India,” emphasizing that citizens in both nations deserve free and fair elections. Her remarks represent the first time a US lawmaker has commented on this specific issue.

According to statistics from the Election Commission of India, roughly 72 million names were deleted during the first and second phases of the Special Internal Review (SIR) across 13 states and union territories. During the ongoing third phase, which involves the publication of draft lists for 18 states and union territories, the number of deleted voters has reached 61.6 million. The Commission noted that voters whose names were inadvertently omitted may seek inclusion through a claims and objections process or via Form 6.