Sachin Delhi: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh issued an unambiguous warning in the Upper House, stating that the nationwide exercise being carried out under the banner of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is not a routine update of electoral rolls but a systematic deletion of voters and a coordinated attempt at ‘vote chori’.
The AAP MP stressed that unless the government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) place concrete, name-wise and area-wise data of the entire operation before the public, the opposition and civil society will be compelled to take firm action against what he described as a direct assault on democratic rights.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, senior AAP leader and MP Sanjay Singh said, “In a nation for which Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Ram Prasad Bismil, Khudiram Bose and Ashfaqulla Khan made the ultimate sacrifice and whose Constitution Babasaheb Ambedkar created on the foundation of equal voting rights, any interference with the right to vote will not be tolerated.”
The AAP MP asked whether SIR was truly meant to correct voter rolls or whether “selectively removing target groups to gain political advantage has become the real objective.” He reminded the government that under Constitutional Article 327 and the Representation of the People Act, 1950, “The Election Commission powers remain within constitutional boundaries and any large-scale unilateral action requires clear legal basis, transparent procedures and the guidance of Parliament.”
Citing Delhi example, Sanjay Singh said, “In the New Delhi Assembly constituency, 42,000 names were suddenly deleted even before elections began, we have this data and we have submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission.” He added that similar incidents have emerged in Bihar, stating, “Under SIR, massive voter deletions have been reported and these deletions are shaking the roots of democracy, if their rationale is not explained, it will prove that electoral manipulation has been used to secure majorities.”
Recalling long-standing questions on EVM transparency and fairness, he asked, “When many judicial and parliamentary forums across countries have raised doubts and even restrictions on EVM, why is India resisting the creation of a transparent and trustworthy electoral system?”
Demanding full disclosure from the ECI and the Centre, Sanjay Singh said, “All details of deletions under SIR, name-wise, booth-wise and reason-wise must be made public and Booth Level Officers who faced pressure or lost their lives must receive constitutional acknowledgment and firm protection measures.”
He questioned attempts to distract the public through narratives of infiltrators and detention centres, stating, “These stories are being inflated as electoral issues while the government fails to provide accountability or resources for basic needs like health, education and unemployment. The government must tell the country how many foreign nationals were identified and deported in 11 years and what the real number is behind these claims of 65 lakh deletions.”
The AAP MP reiterated that the EC cannot function as a political arm, saying, “The EC is not a political calculation body, nor can it become a benchmark for any party, if it is enforcing unilateral SIR across India beyond its constitutional remit, it is misusing its mandate.” He affirmed that AAP would escalate its fight: “Against such arbitrariness, AAP will use Parliament and judicial routes and if needed, raise its voice on the streets to safeguard democracy.”
Sanjay Singh added that AAP has already provided written complaints and evidence to the Commission. “We expect timely, transparent and accurate answers to protect the sovereignty of the electoral process and voter trust,” he said, urging the government to immediately release the detailed reasons behind deletions in every affected area.
The AAP MP appealed to citizens to remain vigilant. “We urge people across India to protect their voting rights and speak up against any violation. AAP will continue informing citizens at the state and booth levels and will actively pursue legal remedies to safeguard democratic trust.”
Concluding his remarks, Sanjay Singh said, “AAP again demands full public disclosure of all actions taken under SIR otherwise, the opposition will be compelled to pursue stronger constitutional, legal and public mobilisation measures to protect every citizen’s right to vote.”
