India Rejects US Lawmakers' Claims of Voter Purge
India has dismissed allegations from US Democratic lawmakers who urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address human rights and electoral concerns during his visit to India.
Six US Democratic lawmakers, including Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar, have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address human rights concerns with Indian officials during his upcoming visit to India. In a letter dated October 16, the lawmakers alleged a pattern of repression, wrongful detentions, and excessive force against student protesters and supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party.
Representative Jayapal specifically characterized the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls as a purge of 130 million voters. The lawmakers also claimed that Indian diplomatic missions surveilled protesters in Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco, suggesting the US evaluate India's eligibility for arms sales under the Arms Export Control Act.
India has strongly rejected these claims. Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the remarks as unacceptable interference in India's internal affairs. The Election Commission of India further clarified that the voter roll revisions were transparent and shared with political parties, while Indian officials asserted that the country remains a vibrant democracy with independent constitutional institutions.
