India's top civil rights network, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), has condemned the reported police crackdown on protesters opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi, alleging that peaceful demonstrators, including students, women, queer persons, journalists, lawyers and activists, were subjected to violence. It has demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the release of detained activists and the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters.
In a statement, NAPM called for the scrapping of the SIR in its present form, repeal of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, and restoration of Jantar Mantar as an accessible venue for peaceful protests.
The organisation alleged that police personnel had beaten demonstrators, assaulted women protesters and targeted journalists covering the protests. It also raised concerns over reported attacks on protesters by right-wing groups in the presence of police personnel and called for an independent investigation into the allegations.
“Peaceful and non-violent protest is a constitutional exercise of democratic rights, irrespective of whether prior permission has been sought, granted or denied,” NAPM said, arguing that the absence of permission could not, by itself, justify arbitrary detention, assault or disproportionate use of force.
The organisation demanded that police officers found responsible for unlawful violence be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law. It also called for the preservation of video evidence, protection of victims and witnesses, and appropriate medical assistance, legal support and compensation for those affected.
NAPM said the movement against the SIR had expanded over the past two months, with citizens and young people across the country demanding the withdrawal of the exercise and accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI). It questioned the process followed by the Commission and raised concerns about the reported deletion of more than 13 crore voters from electoral rolls.
Describing the reported scale of deletions as a matter of serious democratic concern, NAPM said the figures required a transparent and independent explanation. It maintained that electoral-roll revision must not result in the exclusion of eligible voters because of administrative failures, inadequate documentation, arbitrary procedures or political discrimination.
“Every deletion must be justified, verifiable and subject to an accessible appeals process,” the statement said, adding that no eligible citizen should lose the right to vote because of deficiencies in the revision process.
The organisation also posed eight questions to the Election Commission concerning the legal basis of the nationwide SIR, the decision-making process within the Commission, changes to Form 6 used for voter registration, control over electoral-roll databases, and the handling of appeals and deletions in different states.
Among other issues, NAPM sought clarification on reports that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had raised objections to 14 decisions related to the SIR. It questioned how those decisions could be described as unanimous if the reported objections had been recorded.
The statement also sought explanations for reported deletions in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the inability to restore 97 voters in Goa who were reportedly found eligible by local officials, and claims concerning the filing of appeals against voters whose inclusion in electoral rolls had been challenged.
NAPM called for an impartial investigation into allegations of electoral-roll manipulation and demanded that the Election Commission publicly respond to the questions raised. It also sought accountability for the reported deaths of booth-level officers (BLOs), whom it said had faced an unfair burden in implementing the SIR.
“The Election Commission of India must act as an independent constitutional authority, not as an institution shielded from democratic scrutiny,” the statement said.
Holding the Union Home Minister politically and administratively responsible for the functioning of Delhi Police, NAPM demanded Amit Shah’s resignation over the alleged police violence. It also called on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, alleging that the SIR had resulted in wrongful voter deletions and raising concerns about changes to voter application forms.
Its other demands include the immediate release of all detained or arrested activists, withdrawal of cases and first information reports against protesters, and an assurance that peaceful demonstrators would not face further violence or intimidation.
NAPM said the right to peaceful dissent was essential to constitutional democracy and urged civil liberties groups, trade unions, student and youth organisations, women’s movements and other concerned citizens to stand in solidarity with those demanding electoral accountability.
“The people’s right to vote must be protected. The people’s right to protest must be respected. Those who abuse State power must be held accountable,” the statement said.
Comments