India’s Envoy Rebukes Jayapal Over 130 Million Voter Claim

India’s envoy to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, called US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s claim that 130 million people were purged from voter rolls “unacceptable interference” in India’s affairs. He defended the country’s elections and constitutional bodies, and offered to speak with her to address what he called misconceptions. The exchange turns a dispute over voter lists into a public clash between an Indian diplomat and a US lawmaker. ^1,3

The 130 million figure came from Jayapal’s criticism of India’s Special Intensive Revision, a nationwide review of voter lists carried out in stages. Election Commission figures cited in reports show 72 million entries removed from draft lists in the first two phases, across 13 states and Union Territories. The third phase excluded 61.6 million, covering 18. The Commission says the review aims to update voter lists by finding people who have died, moved, are absent or appear more than once. ^3,8

Those draft exclusions do not, by themselves, mean people have lost the right to vote. The Commission says eligible people whose names were left off can apply to be added using Form 6, through a process for claims and objections. But critics say the scale of the exclusions and the burden on voters to correct errors raise serious questions about access and accountability. Student groups and opposition figures have protested, while environmental advocates say the right to protest also matters for climate and environmental justice. ^2,3,10

Form 6 is now central to the argument: the Commission presents it as a way back onto the voter lists. Campaigners say it does not excuse errors or shift responsibility from officials. Jayapal has backed peaceful demonstrations, and Kwatra has rejected her criticism rather than the review itself. In Delhi, the Cockroach Janta Party and student groups have announced a Tiranga march at Central Park, Connaught Place, for Friday, October 16. ^3,5,10