Muslims the target? Fury as millions lose voting rights in India’s Bengal | Elections News

The Election Commission of India (ECI) revised its electoral rolls in West Bengal, resulting in the deletion of voter names from over nine million people. The process, called a special intensive revision (SIR), has been controversial and is accused by opposition parties and Muslim groups of targeting voters unlikely to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ECI claims the SIR aims to remove duplicate or deceased voters but critics argue it disproportionately affects Muslims. The process has faced legal challenges, with the Supreme Court allowing those whose cases are pending before tribunals to vote in the upcoming election. Muslim families across West Bengal report difficulties proving their voting rights, citing discrepancies in spellings, changes of surnames after marriage, and issues with residency status. The ECI maintains that the SIR is a routine activity but critics argue it lacks transparency and places an excessive burden on female voters who often lack required documents.