Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Demands Resolution of SIR Electoral Roll Issues Ahead of Assembly Polls

NEW DELHI: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has raised strong objections over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Speaking at its monthly press conference, leadership warned against conducting upcoming Assembly elections on flawed voter lists, while also expressing serious concerns over the political targeting of dissenters, winter preparedness, and regional pollution control.

SIR Exercise Caused Unprecedented Voter Deletions, Claims APCR

Addressing the media on the SIR exercise and upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur, Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) Secretary Nadeem Khan questioned the impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Khan warned that proceeding with Assembly polls without resolving voter roll discrepancies risks repeating past failures, where lakhs of eligible voters were disenfranchised while thousands of invalid entries were added.

“The numbers are staggering and troubling,” Khan said. “Across the five states, the electorate fell from approximately 18.71 crore prior to the SIR to 16.43 crore in the final rolls — a net reduction of around 2.29 crore voters, or 12.2%.”

State-wise electorate reductions cited include:

Uttar Pradesh: Down by ~2.04 crore (13.24%), accounting for nearly 90% of the total decline.
Punjab: Down by ~14 lakh.
Uttarakhand: Down by ~8 lakh.
Manipur: Down by ~1.3 lakh.
Goa: Down by ~1.27 lakh.

“Public trust in the ECI’s impartiality has been severely damaged,” Khan added, demanding that the CEC take moral responsibility and resign. JIH urged the Commission to publish complete state-wise data on additions, deletions, restorations, and objections, calling for a transparent review before any election dates are announced.

Condemnation of Political Targeting and Dissent Suppression

JIH Vice President Prof. Salim Engineer strongly condemned the alleged misuse of investigative agencies and criminal proceedings to execute political vendettas against opposition figures, activists, and dissenters.

Pointing to the ongoing legal actions against veteran leader Azam Khan and Muhammad Ali Jauhar University, Prof. Engineer noted: “After a court granted him bail, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate within minutes of leaving prison. This is part of a longer pattern of selective targeting against those who challenge the ruling establishment.”

JIH called for strict judicial scrutiny to prevent state machinery from being weaponized against political opponents.

Call for Action on Winter Relief and Air Pollution

Prof. Engineer also urged central and state governments to roll out coordinated winter preparedness and pollution control measures without delay.

Key relief and environmental demands include:

Expanding and fully equipping municipal night shelters with warm clothing, hot meals, and mobile medical units.
Stricter enforcement against construction dust and open waste burning.
Proactive public health advisories to protect vulnerable groups—including children and the elderly—before seasonal air quality deteriorates to hazardous levels.

Prof. Engineer affirmed that JIH will continue its nationwide relief efforts, distributing blankets and winter supplies regardless of religion, caste, or background, while calling on the public to support local homeless and vulnerable residents.