Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Fears of large-scale voter disenfranchisement have intensified after the Election Commission of India (EC) released draft electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025, showing massive deletions across nine states and three Union Territories, Indian media reported on Wednesday. Preliminary figures indicate that nearly 13% of electors have been removed so far, a number that could translate into close to 110 million voters losing their voting rights if not adequately corrected. The most striking case is Uttar Pradesh, where the draft rolls show 28.9 million fewer voters than the previous list, nearly 18.7% of the state&rsquo;s electorate. Similar patterns have emerged elsewhere: around 5.8 million voters were deleted in West Bengal (7.6%), 2.408 million in Kerala (8%), and 9.73 million in Tamil Nadu. BJP-ruled states have also seen sharp reductions, with about 4.2 million deletions in Madhya Pradesh, 41.85% of voters removed in Rajasthan, and at least 7.3 million deletions in Gujarat as per the draft electoral rolls. The EC maintains that most deletions involve duplicate entries, deceased voters, or those who have permanently shifted or were absent during verification. While a month-long window has been provided for objections and corrections, the final number of deletions is likely to be around two or three per cent less than the currently known figure. &lsquo;Opacity and arbitrariness&rsquo;Opposition parties, however, have raised serious concerns over the transparency and design of the SIR process. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the EC of &ldquo;opacity, arbitrariness and informality,&rdquo; alleging procedural violations and misuse of IT systems. The Congress, DMK and Left parties have echoed similar objections, warning that the exercise is being conducted in a hurried and ad hoc manner. &lsquo;Fundamentally flawed&rsquo;&nbsp;Political scientist Yogendra Yadav has described the 2025 SIR as fundamentally flawed, arguing that it places the entire burden of proving eligibility and even citizenship on voters, unlike the 2002 revision, which relied on trained enumerators and existing records. He has also highlighted disproportionate deletions among women, migrants and residents of net in-migration states. With the EC yet to release detailed data on wrongful exclusions, critics warn that unless corrective measures are taken urgently, the SIR could result in unprecedented mass disenfranchisement, undermining the credibility of India&rsquo;s electoral process. Exclusion of over 6 million namesIndia launched a revision of its voter rolls on Nov. 4, 2025, expanding a contentious exercise that activists warn could fuel disenfranchisement in the world&#39;s largest democracy, according to an AFP report. The three-month voter registration overhaul, the SIR &mdash; kicked off in 12 states and territories, many of which are slated to hold local elections next year. Earlier last year, the ECI conducted a similar revision in the eastern state of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-opposition-criticizes-ruling-bjp-of-voter-purge-driving-bihar-election-victory" style="color:#0073e6;">Bihar</a>, home to more than 130 million people, ahead of its state elections. The process led to the exclusion of around 6.5 million names, which the ECI said was necessary to prevent the inclusion of &quot;foreign illegal immigrants.&quot;

India

Preliminary figures indicate that nearly 13% of electors have been removed so far, a number that could translate into close to 110 million voters losing their voting rights if not adequately corrected, Indian media reported.

Deletions in draft electoral rolls trigger fears of disenfranchisement in India 

ISLAMABAD: A controversy has erupted over remarks made by Girdhari Lal Sahu, husband of Uttarakhand Women and Child Development Minister Rekha Arya, belonging to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggesting that girls in Bihar are &ldquo;sold&rdquo; for a fixed sum in marriage. The statement has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties as well as the BJP&rsquo;s Bihar unit, which has demanded an apology. Sahu made the comments while addressing a public gathering in Almora district of Uttarakhand earlier this week. Derogatory and demeaning remarks&nbsp;A video clip of his speech, which has since gone viral on social media, shows him speaking to young BJP workers in the audience and urging them to marry at what he described as the &ldquo;right time&rdquo;. In the video, Sahu is heard saying, &ldquo;You are young now, when will you get married? In old age? If you are unable to get married, we will bring a girl for you from Bihar. There, you get girls for ₹20,000 to ₹25,000.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 993px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2006992867009663200&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b7c3715df63b46b2e18cb457e1c44c887d4d1889&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2006992867009663200">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The remarks were widely criticized as derogatory and demeaning towards women of Bihar. While Arya and the Uttarakhand BJP have not issued any official response, the party&rsquo;s Bihar unit distanced itself from the statement. Bihar BJP spokesperson Prabhakar Mishra said women could not be treated as commodities and termed the remark an insult to both Bihar and its women. He added that action would be ensured against individuals making such statements. Following the backlash, Sahu released another video claiming his remarks were misrepresented. He alleged that the Opposition had distorted a casual conversation to create controversy. &ldquo;I deeply respect women and can never speak ill of them,&rdquo; he said, asserting that his words were taken out of context.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1540px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2007030092434993589&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b7c3715df63b46b2e18cb457e1c44c887d4d1889&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2007030092434993589"></iframe></div></div>&lsquo;Extremely objectionable&rsquo;The explanation failed to placate critics. Apsara, chairperson of the Bihar State Women Commission, condemned the remarks as reflecting &ldquo;intellectual bankruptcy&rdquo; and said the Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and would seek a written apology. BJP ally Janata Dal (United) MP Rampreet Mandal described the statement as &ldquo;extremely objectionable&rdquo; and demanded an immediate apology. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram also criticized the remark, alleging it reflected a pattern of disrespect towards the people of Bihar and calling for an apology from Sahu.

In a video, Sahu is heard saying, ‘You are young now, when will you get married? In old age? If you are unable to get married, we will bring a girl for you from Bihar. There, you get girls for ₹20,000 to ₹25,000.’ 

Indian state minister’s husband sparks outrage with comments on ‘buying’ girls

ISLAMABAD: Dr. Nusrat Parveen, a newly appointed Unani doctor, was publicly assaulted by Indian Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who pulled down her hijab (veil), as seen in the viral video during an official government ceremony in Patna on Monday.&nbsp;The incident occurred at the Chief Minister&rsquo;s Secretariat, Samvad, where Kumar was distributing appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors, according to Indian media reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Parveen was among the doctors called on stage to receive her appointment letter directly from the Chief Minister.&nbsp;Who is Dr. Nusrat Parveen?Dr. Nusrat Parveen is a Unani medical practitioner, part of India&rsquo;s state-backed AYUSH system, which includes Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.&nbsp;She was appointed as a government medical officer under Bihar&rsquo;s health services in the latest recruitment drive, according to officials and Indian media reports.&nbsp;Parveen was one of 1,283 AYUSH doctors recruited by the Bihar government in 2025 to strengthen primary healthcare services across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;The batch included 685 Ayurvedic doctors, 393 homeopathic doctors, and 205 Unani practitioners, officials said.&nbsp;Dr. Parveen is among the 205 Unani doctors selected in this recruitment cycle. Unani medicine is a traditional medical system with roots in Greco-Arabic medical science and is formally regulated and practiced under India&rsquo;s public healthcare framework.&nbsp;According to government recruitment details, AYUSH doctors are deployed in public health facilities, including primary and community health centers, to provide outpatient care and support national health programs, particularly in rural and underserved areas.&nbsp;The appointment ceremonyThe ceremony on Monday involved the distribution of appointment letters to newly recruited doctors, most of whom received their letters digitally.&nbsp;A small group, including Dr. Parveen, was invited to receive letters in person from the chief minister, according to officials.&nbsp;She approached the stage wearing a hijab that partially covered her face. It was at this moment that the chief minister intervened, leading to the widely criticized incident.&nbsp;As of Tuesday, the chief minister&rsquo;s office has also not released an official explanation or apology regarding the incident, Indian media reported.&nbsp;The episode has reignited debate in India over women&rsquo;s dignity, religious freedom, and the conduct of public officials at state functions.

Dr Nusrat Parveen, government-appointed Unani doctor, was assaulted when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled down her hijab during a Patna appointment ceremony, sparking outrage over dignity and freedom nationwide



Who is the doctor assaulted by Bihar CM ?

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is facing backlash after a video went viral showing him pulling down a Muslim woman&rsquo;s hijab (veil) at a government function in Bihar on Monday.&nbsp;The incident occurred at the Bihar Chief Minister&rsquo;s secretariat, known as Samvad, during a ceremony attended by newly appointed doctors.&nbsp;Among the 1,283 appointees were 685 Ayurvedic practitioners, 393 homeopathic doctors, and 205 Unani medicine specialists, Indian media reported.&nbsp;While most appointment letters were issued online, ten individuals, including Nusrat Parveen, received their letters directly from the Chief Minister, according to Indian media.&nbsp;As Nusrat Parveen approached the stage to receive her appointment letter, the Chief Minister appeared taken aback by her hijab, which partially covered her face.&nbsp;Indian media reports said he exclaimed, &ldquo;What is this?&rdquo; before reaching out and pulling the hijab aside.&nbsp;The video quickly went viral, triggering a wave of reactions on social media.&nbsp;The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) strongly criticized the chief minister, questioning his mental health and describing his condition as &ldquo;pitiable.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;What has happened to Nitish ji? Has his mental state reached a completely pitiable condition, or has Nitish Babu become 100 per cent Sanghi now?&rdquo; the party said in a post.&nbsp;&ldquo;The removal of the hijab from a Muslim woman&rsquo;s face clearly reflects the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government&rsquo;s attitude toward the Muslim community,&rdquo; Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed said on X.&nbsp;Public reactionFollowing the incident, a strong backlash erupted on social media, with users condemning the chief minister and accusing him of harboring hatred toward India&rsquo;s Muslim community.&nbsp;Ashok Swain, an academic and professor at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University in Sweden, criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s administration, calling the incident an example of misogyny and Islamophobia.&nbsp;&ldquo;Modi&rsquo;s key ally and Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, forcibly pulls down the veil of a Muslim lady doctor while giving her an appointment letter. In Modi&rsquo;s India, misogyny and Islamophobia have official sanction!&rdquo; he wrote on X.&nbsp;Samajwadi Party Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ravidas Mehrotra, speaking to the media, said the incident showed that the Bihar Chief Minister was not mentally stable.&nbsp;&ldquo;This incident clearly shows that the Chief Minister of Bihar is not mentally stable. After this incident, he has no moral right to remain in the post of Chief Minister even for a single day,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi also raised the issue on X, describing the incident as &ldquo;indefensible and deeply disturbing.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;He owes the woman and the public an unconditional apology. This erratic conduct is alarming and points to a man who no longer possesses the composure or mental clarity required for constitutional office. Seeking medical attention and stepping aside is necessary,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;India&rsquo;s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), also condemned the incident on its official X account, questioning the safety of women in Bihar and calling on the Chief Minister to resign.&nbsp;&ldquo;Look at his shamelessness&mdash;a female doctor had come to collect her appointment letter, and Nitish Kumar pulled off her hijab,&rdquo; the party said.&nbsp;&ldquo;Nitish Kumar should immediately resign for this disgusting behaviour. This vileness is unforgivable,&rdquo; it added.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faces widespread backlash after a video showed him pulling down a Muslim woman’s hijab at a government ceremony, triggering political outrage and social media condemnation

Articles tagged with "Bihar"

Deletions in draft electoral rolls trigger fears of disenfranchisement in India

Indian state minister’s husband sparks outrage with comments on ‘buying’ girls

Who is the doctor assaulted by Bihar CM ?

Indian chief minister faces backlash over removing Muslim woman’s veil