US Lawmaker Pramila Jayapal Backs SIR Protests in India, Accuses Modi Government of Being Influenced by Trump

New Delhi: Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has expressed concern over the deletion of nearly 13.3 crore names from India’s electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, extending her support to peaceful protests against the process in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the country.

Jayapal, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives, described the large-scale removal of voters’ names as an anti-democratic effort and called for safeguarding democratic rights and ensuring free and fair elections in India.

“Just as Americans have the right to fair elections, Indians have the same right. Protecting democracy is critically important,” she said, expressing concern over the large number of names reportedly removed from India’s voter lists.

Drawing parallels with the Trump administration’s actions concerning voting rights in the United States, Jayapal said developments in India appeared similar to efforts that she alleged had undermined electoral rights in America. She voiced solidarity with Indians participating in peaceful demonstrations against what she described as an anti-democratic exercise.

Meanwhile, the ongoing protests over the SIR process have reportedly drawn international attention, with political leaders and representatives from countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and several European nations commenting on the developments.

The United Nations human rights office has also expressed concern over reports of protesters being detained during demonstrations in Delhi. It urged the authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly, raising concerns over reports that a large number of demonstrators had been taken into custody.

The controversy surrounding the SIR exercise has intensified debate over voter-list revision, electoral inclusion and the protection of democratic rights in India.