The Election Commission has disproportionately disenfranchised Muslim and marginalised voters, alleges the organisation
WASHINGTON, DC — As West Bengal awaits the outcome of the legislative assembly elections, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) has denounced the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process as well as the Home Ministry’s deployment of more than 200,000 law enforcement officers to the state during elections.
Hindus for Human Rights is an education and advocacy organisation rooted in the values of satya (truth), nyaya (justice), and shanti (peace) and brings together secular and religious Hindus—as well as allies of every background—to build a pluralistic future grounded in dignity and equality.
In a press note issued on Wednesday, HfHR expressed concern over the misuse of SIR and alleged that the central government took measures to disenfranchise millions of voters in West Bengal and intimidate the rest of the state in a blatant attempt to engineer the results of the election. This is nothing less than the destruction of Indian democracy, the statement said.
The Election Commission of India has disproportionately disenfranchised Muslim and marginalised voters, alleged the HfHR. Though the ECI insisted that the SIR conducted in West Bengal was designed to identify “illegal voters,” the data from SABAR and other analysts do not support their claim, HfHR said.
The organisation, however, urged India’s opposition parties to stand steadfastly with the civil society organisations fighting for the country’s democracy and with India’s 200 million Muslims, who are equal citizens under the Constitution.
“Together, in India and abroad, we must fight against the authoritarian capture of India’s elections and protect India’s sacred democratic traditions,” HfHR said.
