New Delhi [India], July 3 : Maulana Mahmood Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, has raised serious concerns over the ongoing special revision of the voter list in Bihar, calling it a threat to constitutional rights and electoral fairness.
According to a release, Madani warned that this "hasty and unclear process based on arbitrary and one-sided instructions" could disenfranchise millions of citizens, particularly migrant workers, minorities, and marginalised communities, by depriving them of their fundamental right to vote.
Maulana Madani questioned the practicality of verifying the identities of over eight crore voters within a single month. He also objected to the requirement that individuals born after July 1, 1987, must submit documents from at least one parent, and those born after 2004 must provide documents from both parents.
"If this is not an NRC (National Register of Citizens), then why are NRC-style procedures being enforced?" he asked. He said that thousands of women would be disproportionately affected, as they often do not possess proof of parental linkage.
Mahmood Madani reiterated that the right to vote is a fundamental democratic entitlement, as stipulated in Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, and any attempt to curtail this right violates the spirit of the Constitution and strikes at the heart of India's democratic and social fabric.
Further, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind urged the Election Commission of India to immediately withdraw the directive issued under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
"The Commission must adopt a reasonable and inclusive timeline, and ensure that voter registration follows standard procedures, without resorting to excessive documentation demands. Furthermore, migrant workers should not be excluded from the rolls; instead, proactive measures must be taken to protect and facilitate their voting rights," it said, as per the release.
Maulana Madani stated, "If the right to vote is denied, it is not just electoral injustice, it is the erasure of identity, rights, and the future of citizens." He cautioned that if state institutions act with bias or discrimination, the trust of minorities, migrants, and the poor in the electoral system and the democratic framework as a whole will be deeply shaken.
Madani concluded by reaffirming the unwavering commitment of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind to defend the voting rights of every citizen, regardless of class, gender, or community. "We are determined to safeguard the democratic rights of all Indians through constitutional, legal, and peaceful means, and will firmly resist any attempt to suppress them," he asserted.