New Delhi
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani has expressed deep concern over the current process of Special Revision of Voter Lists (SIR), saying that what is happening in the country is not just a revision of voter lists but is becoming a very serious issue related to the basic democratic and constitutional rights of citizens. If every citizen is forced to prove his citizenship and right to vote again and again, then it is not just a matter of voting but a matter of the Constitution, democracy and civil liberties.
Maulana Madani stated that voter list revisions have been conducted in the past as well, but the present SIR appears fundamentally different in its nature, methodology, and potential consequences. Millions of citizens are being forced to make repeated visits to government offices, gather numerous documents, and endure severe mental stress, yet they still have no assurance that their names will remain on the electoral rolls. If the constitutional right to vote becomes subject to government discretion, it would represent a deeply dangerous trend for India’s democratic system.
He recalled that Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had, from the very beginning, expressed apprehension that the current SIR could turn out to be a new version of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Reports now emerging from various states, he said, are reinforcing those concerns. The constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission is to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections, not to determine the citizenship of individuals. If deletion from the electoral rolls effectively becomes a question mark over a person’s citizenship, it would amount to an overreach beyond constitutional limits.
Maulana Madani further alleged that under the cover of the SIR, attempts appear to be underway to deprive genuine citizens of their voting rights, with Muslims reportedly being disproportionately targeted in several states. Referring to West Bengal, he said that branding 2.7 million voters as “doubtful” and questioning their voting rights constitutes a serious blot on democracy. According to available reports, a substantial number of those affected are Muslims, raising serious questions about the neutrality and impartiality of the entire exercise.
He noted that the next phases of the SIR have already begun, making it imperative for all citizens, especially Muslims, to proceed with exceptional vigilance, legal awareness, and caution. All necessary documents should be kept ready in advance, and forms must never be submitted in haste or carelessly, as even a minor technical error could later result in serious legal complications.
Maulana Madani assured the public that, as in the past, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind would continue to provide guidance, document verification, and legal assistance across the country through its network of volunteers, advocates, and legal experts, so that no citizen is deprived of their constitutional and democratic rights due to ignorance or technical deficiencies.
He further observed that there is a growing perception that the ongoing revision of electoral rolls is not confined merely to correcting voter lists but is also being viewed in certain quarters as a means of weakening the electoral influence of Muslim voters. Referring to the recent delimitation exercise in Assam, he said that concerns had previously been raised that the redrawing of constituencies would dilute the electoral strength of Muslim voters, and similar measures could now be attempted in other states as well.
Maulana Madani stated that when the administration and other institutions fail to deliver justice, the Supreme Court remains the last hope for the people. Welcoming the decision of opposition parties to approach the Supreme Court against the SIR, he expressed hope that the apex court would provide effective guidance to safeguard the supremacy of the Constitution, protect the fundamental rights of citizens, and uphold the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
Recalling the experience of the NRC process in Assam, he said that Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had fought a historic legal struggle during that period, providing legal assistance to millions of Hindu and Muslim families and helping countless Indian citizens avoid being wrongly declared foreigners. He emphasized that Jamiat’s struggle was never for any one particular community; rather, it was for the protection of the Constitution, justice, and the dignity of every Indian citizen.
Maulana Madani asserted that if, in the name of the SIR, any attempt is made to undermine the voting rights or other constitutional rights of any citizen, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will stand firmly beside them and fight on every legal, constitutional, and democratic front. He said that the survival of democracy depends on ensuring that every citizen’s vote remains protected, the supremacy of the Constitution is upheld, and no Indian is compelled without just cause to repeatedly prove their citizenship.