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Ex-diplomat Navdeep Suri flags 'trouble establishing citizenship' during Punjab SIR
Former Indian diplomats Navdeep Suri and Ramesh Chander have been asked to provide additional documents to prove their citizenship during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Punjab. Both served abroad in 2003, the baseline year for the revision, leading to mismatches and official notices. Punjab electoral officials say the process is routine and their names remain on the rolls.
Ex-diplomats Face Citizenship Checks During Punjab Electoral Roll Revision
Two former Indian diplomats have been asked to furnish additional documents to prove their citizenship during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Punjab, raising questions about the process for ordinary voters.
Navdeep Suri, who served as India's ambassador to the UAE and Egypt and high commissioner to Australia, said on Sunday that he was facing trouble establishing his citizenship despite having represented India in three countries.
In posts on X, Suri said he went to his booth-level officer (BLO) with his Voter ID and Aadhaar card and was assured everything was in order. He later received a message saying some details did not match with the 2003 electoral roll, the baseline for the revision.
Suri said the BLO told him to collect a notice and return with documents to prove his Indian citizenship. When he replied that he was not in India in 2003, they asked for his passport as proof.
"I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can't help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what's the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!" Suri wrote.
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra said Suri's name was never removed from the electoral roll and that his name is part of the draft electoral roll published on August 13. She said he was simply served notice and asked to submit certain documents, and after getting the mandatory documents, his name was published. His vote was earlier registered in Amritsar and continues to be registered there, she added.
Suri served in diplomatic missions in Cairo, Damascus, Washington, Dar es Salaam and London, and was India's Consul General in Johannesburg. In recognition of his service, the President of the UAE conferred on him the Order of Zayed II, the country's second-highest civilian award.
The second ex-diplomat, 75-year-old Ramesh Chander, a retired Indian Foreign Service officer and former ambassador, received a notice to appear at an office on Ladowali Road in Jalandhar on August 27. Chander, who has been voting from Jalandhar for many years, said he had already submitted his Aadhaar card, voter ID and other documents to the BLO.
"I voted in 2007, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2022 and 2024. Yet, I have been summoned to appear with proof of residence to verify my citizenship for the electoral roll," Chander said.
The notice from the Additional Electoral Registration Officer, Jalandhar (West), stated his documents were inadequate and his details did not match the last electoral roll. Chander served as Indian Ambassador to Belarus, Counsellor in Japan, Consul General in Edinburgh, and Minister in Prague. In 2003, he was serving in Japan and was abroad.
Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia said the notice was part of a formal process, not out of the ordinary, and that documents would be collected from Chander's home.
The SIR process requires voters not included in the 2002 or 2003 electoral rolls to submit documents linking them to people in those legacy rolls. The Election Commission initially listed 11 acceptable documents, excluding Aadhaar, but after Supreme Court proceedings, it expanded the list to include Aadhaar. The Supreme Court observed that the Election Commission's powers cannot be "untrammelled" and must comply with transparency and natural justice.
The SIR was first launched in Bihar in June 2025, where over 60 lakh names were removed. In West Bengal, around 90 lakh voters were deleted ahead of assembly elections. The third phase is being conducted in 16 states including Punjab, with a follow-up verification until September 12 and the final electoral roll due on October 12.
How each outlet told it
ANI (Asian News International)
Framing: Frames the story around Chidambaram's attack on ECI, using his quote about 'non-voting citizens' as the headline hook. — Critical and accusatory, following Chidambaram's framing of 'non-voting citizens'.
Facts Included:
P Chidambaram, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, targeted ECI over SIR, accusing it of manufacturing a new class of 'non-voting citizens'.
Chidambaram's remarks came after former Indian Envoy Navdeep Suri questioned if he is facing trouble establishing citizenship during SIR in Punjab.
Chidambaram's X post: 'Based on the outcomes so far, at the end of the S.I.R. process, 10% of India's adult population will be 'citizens' but without the right to vote, thanks to the ECI. That is nearly 10 crore people. The ECI has created a new category of 'non-voting citizens'.'
Suri's quote referenced: 'If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in the three countries, what's the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Suri said his details failed to match the 2003 electoral rolls used for verification, since he was posted in London at the time and had not participated in that revision.
Framing: Emphasizes Suri's concerns over SIR in Punjab due to a 'mismatch' notice, focusing on his complaint rather than broader political reaction or context. — Measured and neutral, incorporating both Suri's complaint and the official response without alarm or advocacy.
Facts Included:
Navdeep Suri, former ambassador to UAE and Egypt, high commissioner to Australia, raised concerns over SIR in Punjab after receiving a 'mismatch' notice.
Suri's X post on Sunday: submitted Voter Card and Aadhaar Card, was assured everything was in order, got message from volunteer that details don't match with SIR in 2003.
Suri said BLO told him to collect notice and come with unspecified documents showing Indian citizenship; asked for passport as proof since he was not in India in 2003.
Suri's quote: 'If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what's the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Punjab CEO Anindita Mitra said Suri's name was never removed from electoral roll; it is part of draft electoral roll published on August 13.
Mitra said Suri was simply served notice and asked to submit certain documents; after getting mandatory documents, his name was published as part of electoral roll.
Mitra said Suri's vote was earlier registered in Amritsar and continues to be registered there.
Suri served in diplomatic missions in Cairo, Damascus, Washington, Dar es Salaam and London, and was India's Consul General in Johannesburg.
President of UAE conferred on Suri the Order of Zayed II, second-highest civilian award.
Framing: Similar to ThePrint and Daily Excelsior, focuses on Suri raising concerns over SIR in Punjab due to 'mismatch' notice. — Measured and factual, with a hint of sympathy for Suri through his quote.
Facts Included:
Suri, former ambassador to UAE and Egypt and high commissioner to Australia, expressed anguish on X on Sunday.
Suri's X post: submitted Voter Card and Aadhaar Card, was assured everything was in order, got message from volunteer about details not matching SIR in 2003.
Suri's statement: spoke with BLO, told to collect notice and come with unspecified documents; replied he was not in India in 2003, asked for passport as proof.
Suri's quote: 'I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can't help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what's the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Punjab CEO Anindita Mitra said Suri's name was never removed; it is part of draft electoral roll published on August 13.
Mitra said he was simply served notice and asked to submit certain documents; after getting mandatory documents, his name was published.
Mitra said Suri's vote was earlier registered in Amritsar and continues to be registered there.
Suri served in Cairo, Damascus, Washington, Dar es Salaam and London, and was Consul General in Johannesburg.
Framing: Highlights Suri's trouble proving citizenship after representing India in 3 countries, with a direct appeal to ECI. — Neutral but slightly critical, noting lack of official response.
Facts Included:
Suri served as India's ambassador to the UAE and Egypt and high commissioner to Australia.
Suri's X posts: submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured everything was in order, got message about details not matching SIR in 2003.
Suri said BLO asked him to collect notice and return with unspecified documents; replied he was not in India in 2003, asked for passport as proof.
Suri's quote: 'I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can’t help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what is the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Suri was unavailable for comment; Amritsar deputy commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh said: 'I will get it checked.'
Neither ECI, Punjab government nor Centre had issued official statement at time of filing.
House-to-house enumeration phase recently concluded in Punjab, with 90.4% of registered electors submitting enumeration forms.
Framing: Highlights Suri's 'trouble establishing citizenship' despite serving India abroad, focusing on his personal experience. — Neutral and informative, with a slight undercurrent of concern.
Facts Included:
Navdeep Suri raised concerns over process of establishing citizenship during SIR in Punjab, saying he was asked to produce documents after discrepancies were flagged in his details from 2003 electoral roll.
Suri shared experience on X on Sunday; approached BLO with voter ID and Aadhaar card, was told everything was in order.
Suri's X post about mismatch with SIR in 2003.
Suri's statement: asked to collect notice and return with documents; replied he was not in India in 2003, asked for passport as proof.
Suri's quote about common citizen.
Suri served as high commissioner to Australia and ambassador to UAE and Egypt.
SIR first undertaken in Bihar in June 2025; more than 60 lakh names removed; West Bengal around 90 lakh voters deleted.
Under SIR, voters absent from 2002/2003 rolls have to submit documents establishing link with legacy rolls; ECI initially prescribed 11 documents, Aadhaar excluded.
Following Supreme Court proceedings, ECI expanded accepted documents to include Aadhaar; apex court observed ECI's authority not 'untrammelled'.
Framing: Frames the story around Chidambaram's 'non-voting citizens' claim, using it as the headline. — Critical and accusatory, echoing Chidambaram's language.
Facts Included:
P Chidambaram took a swipe at ECI over SIR after Suri flagged difficulties.
Suri alleged he was asked to produce documents after discrepancies were flagged in his details from the 2023 electoral roll.
Chidambaram's X post: 'Based on the outcomes so far, at the end of the S.I.R. process, 10% of India's adult population will be 'citizens' but without the right to vote, thanks to the ECI. That is nearly 10 crore people. The ECI has created a new category of 'non-voting citizens'.'
Chidambaram described as former Union minister.
Suri's X posts on August 23: submitted voter ID and Aadhaar, was told everything was in order, got message about details not matching SIR in 2003.
Suri's statement: contacted BLO, asked to collect notice and return with documents; replied not in India in 2003, asked for passport as proof.
Suri served as ambassador to UAE and Egypt and High Commissioner to Australia.
Framing: Emphasizes that a second ex-diplomat has been asked for citizenship documents, building on the Suri case. — Neutral and informative, with a slight lean toward highlighting the irony of diplomats facing such issues.
Facts Included:
After Navdeep Suri, another ex-diplomat, 75-year-old Ramesh Chander, asked to furnish additional documents during SIR in Punjab.
Chander served in Belarus, Japan, Prague and Edinburgh; has been voting from Jalandhar for many years.
Chander received notice to appear at office on Ladowali Road on August 27; he had already submitted Aadhaar, voter ID and other documents to BLO.
Chander's quote about voting history: 'I voted in 2007, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2022 and 2024. Yet, I have been summoned to appear with proof of residence to verify my citizenship for the electoral roll.'
Embassy of India in Minsk lists him as Ambassador to Belarus from Feb 16, 2009 to Dec 31, 2010.
Chander said he was serving in Japan in 2003 and was posted abroad.
Notice from Additional Electoral Registration Officer, Jalandhar (West) stated documents were inadequate and details did not match last electoral roll.
DC Varjeet Walia's response: formal process, not out of ordinary; SOPs followed; documents will be collected from home.
SIR follow-up verification until September 12; final electoral roll October 12.
20.69 lakh voters unmapped after first phase; nearly 10% of state's electorate.
Suri's case also detailed: his X posts, quotes, and service details.
Suri's additional quote: 'Documents uploaded in 2026 don’t match my details from 2003, weird because I was at the Indian High Commission in London in 2003 and didn’t participate in the SIR.'
Framing: Highlights Suri's question about common citizens and his trouble establishing citizenship. — Neutral but slightly sympathetic, using 'unexpected challenge'.
Facts Included:
Navdeep Suri, former diplomat with over three decades of service, faced challenge after discrepancies flagged in his 2003 records during SIR in Punjab.
Suri served in Egypt, UAE and Australia.
Suri's X posts: submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar, was assured everything was in order, got message about details not matching SIR in 2003.
Suri's statement: spoke to BLO, asked to collect notice and return with unspecified documents; replied not in India in 2003, asked to submit passport as proof.
Suri's quote: 'I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can’t help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Framing: Highlights Suri's question 'What about ordinary citizens?' and frames it as a hurdle, focusing on implications for common voters. — Sympathetic to Suri and concerned about ordinary citizens, using his quote to raise questions.
Facts Included:
Former diplomat Navdeep Suri flagged concerns over SIR in Punjab; officials sought additional citizenship documents.
Suri submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card to BLO; initially assured everything was in order; later received message details didn't match 2003 electoral roll.
Because he was serving abroad in 2003, authorities demanded his passport as proof.
Suri's quote: 'I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can’t help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Suri questioned implications for ordinary citizens who may lack passports or historical records.
Supreme Court previously stressed transparency and natural justice during revision exercise.
Summary points include Suri's experience in Chandigarh and the requirement to establish citizenship using specified documents.
Framing: Emphasizes Chidambaram's warning about 10 crore losing right to vote, framing it as disenfranchisement risk. — Alarmed and critical, using terms like 'disenfranchisement risk'.
Facts Included:
P Chidambaram warned that nearly 10 crore eligible voters could lose franchise due to SIR.
Chidambaram's X post: 'Based on the outcomes so far, at the end of the S.I.R. process, 10% of India’s adult population will be ‘citizens’ but without the right to vote, thanks to the ECI. That is nearly 10 crore people. The ECI has created a new category of ‘non-voting citizens’.'
Suri provided Voter ID and Aadhaar to BLO; BLO flagged application because details didn't match 2003 SIR rolls.
Suri's X post: 'Sharing my experience with #SIR in Punjab. Went to BLO, submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured everything is in order. Got a message today from a volunteer saying some details don't match with SIR in 2003!'
Suri served in London during 2003 and didn't participate in that year's revision.
Suri's quote: 'Spoke with BLO, was told that I should come and collect the notice. And then come again with unspecified documents that show I am an Indian citizen... I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can’t help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Framing: Frames Suri's experience as part of broader SIR verification concerns, hinting at potential disenfranchisement. — Concerned and analytical, using Suri's case to highlight systemic risks.
Facts Included:
Navdeep Suri raised concerns about verification process under SIR of electoral rolls.
Suri is a retired Indian Foreign Services officer; went through process in Punjab.
Suri's X post: submitted voter ID and Aadhaar card to BLO, was assured everything was in order; later informed details did not match 2003 rolls.
Suri's statement: spoke with BLO, told to collect notice and come with unspecified documents; replied not in India in 2003, asked for passport as proof.
Suri's quote: 'I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can’t help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen?'
Suri served as India's high commissioner to Australia and ambassador to UAE and Egypt.
SIR first phase conducted in Bihar in 2025; extended to 12 states and UTs in second phase in late 2025 and first half of 2026.
Concerns raised that revision could eliminate genuine voters and shape electoral outcomes, as Scroll has reported.
In May, Supreme Court upheld legality of revision but said ECI cannot decide on whether person is Indian citizen.
Framing: Same as ThePrint's PTI wire, focusing on Suri's concerns and 'mismatch' notice. — Measured and neutral, similar to other PTI wire reports.
Facts Included:
Former diplomat Navdeep Suri raised concerns over SIR in Punjab after being served a notice saying details do not match.
Suri served as India's Ambassador to UAE and Egypt and high commissioner to Australia.
Suri's X post: submitted Voter Card and Aadhaar Card, was assured everything was in order, got message from volunteer about details not matching SIR in 2003.
Suri's statement: BLO told him to collect notice and come with unspecified documents showing Indian citizenship; asked for passport as proof since he was not in India in 2003.
Suri's quote: 'I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But I can’t help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Punjab CEO Anindita Mitra said Suri's name was never removed; part of draft electoral roll published on August 13.
Mitra said he was simply served notice and asked to submit certain documents; after getting mandatory documents, his name was published.
Mitra said Suri's vote was earlier registered in Amritsar and continues to be registered there.
Suri served in Cairo, Damascus, Washington, Dar es Salaam and London, and was Consul General in Johannesburg.
Framing: Explains why Suri flagged SIR woes, with a focus on his diplomatic background and the irony. — Sympathetic to Suri, critical of SIR's implementation, using words like 'flawed' and 'ordeal'.
Facts Included:
Navdeep Suri on Sunday flagged issues during SIR in Punjab.
Suri's X post about BLO and mismatch with 2003 SIR.
Suri's quote about trouble establishing citizenship.
Suri asked to provide passport after revealing he was not in India in 2003.
Suri's background: served in Cairo, Damascus, Washington, Dar es Salaam and London; over three decades.
Suri was key figure behind social media initiative in MEA in 2010; received Order of Zayed II in 2019.
Suri's grandfather is Nanak Singh, famous Punjabi poet and Jallianwala Bagh massacre survivor.
SIR first launched in Bihar in June 2025; lakhs of names removed, including deceased.
Under SIR, voters not in 2002/2003 rolls required to submit documents linking to legacy rolls.
Actor-activist Prakash Raj flagged SIR in Karnataka, claimed his name was 'deleted' from voters' list.
Framing: Emphasizes Suri's trouble establishing citizenship despite representing India in three countries; focuses on his personal difficulty and flags SIR concern. — Critical and sympathetic to Suri; amplifies Congress's allegations using language like 'disenfranchisement exercise'.
Facts Included:
Navdeep Suri, former diplomat, raised concerns about SIR in Punjab, saying he had trouble establishing citizenship.
Suri's X post: submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured everything was in order, got message that details didn't match with SIR in 2003.
Suri's statement: spoke with BLO, told to collect notice and come with unspecified documents; replied he was not in India in 2003, so asked for passport as proof.
Suri's quote: 'I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can’t help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
SIR third phase being conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Telangana, and Uttarakhand; UTs: Delhi, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Congress raised questions about ECI impartiality, alleging voters in Uttarakhand being arbitrarily removed under 'SIR' pretext; party leaders sought meeting with EC but were not allowed entry.
P Chidambaram's X post: 'Based on the outcomes so far, at the end of the S.I.R. process, 10% of India's adult population will be 'citizens' but without the right to vote, thanks to the ECI.' 'That is nearly 10 crore people. The ECI has created a new category of 'non-voting citizens'.'
Congress leader Dr Shama Mohamed's statement: 'This is what Gyanesh Kumar and @ECISVEEP have done. When a former Ambassador is finding it difficult to establish his citizenship before the ECI during SIR, we can only imagine the situation of common voters. SIR is nothing but a disenfranchisement exercise.'
Framing: Highlights Suri's 'trouble establishing citizenship' during Punjab SIR, focusing on his personal experience. — Neutral but slightly concerned, using quotes and factual context without political commentary.
Facts Included:
Navdeep Suri, former diplomat, said on Sunday he was facing 'trouble establishing his citizenship' during SIR in Punjab, despite representing India in three countries.
Suri's X post: submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured everything was in order, got message about details not matching SIR in 2003.
Suri's statement: spoke with BLO, told to collect notice and come with unspecified documents; replied he was not in India in 2003, asked for passport as proof.
Suri's quote: 'If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
Suri served as India's high commissioner to Australia and ambassador to UAE and Egypt.
SIR first launched in Bihar in June 2025; more than 60 lakh names removed; West Bengal around 90 lakh voters deleted ahead of assembly elections.
Under SIR, voters not in 2002/2003 rolls required to submit documents linking to legacy rolls; ECI initially listed 11 acceptable documents, excluding Aadhaar.
Following Supreme Court proceedings, ECI expanded list to include Aadhaar.
Supreme Court observed ECI's powers cannot be 'untrammelled' and must comply with transparency and natural justice.
Framing: Focuses on a second ex-diplomat, Ramesh Chander, being asked to prove citizenship, highlighting the irony and the age factor. — Neutral but slightly concerned, presenting Chander's experience and official response without overt criticism.
Facts Included:
Ramesh Chander, retired IFS officer and former ambassador, served notice to prove Indian citizenship under SIR; 75 years old.
Chander voted from Jalandhar for many years; voted in 2007, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2022 and 2024.
Chander received notice asking to appear with additional proof at an office on Ladowali Road on August 27.
Chander had already submitted Aadhaar card, voter ID and other documents to BLO.
Chander is second Indian ambassador to be asked to prove citizenship; previously Navdeep Suri.
Chander served as Indian Ambassador to Belarus; also Counsellor in Japan, Consul General in Edinburgh, Minister in Prague.
In 2003, he was serving in Japan and was posted abroad.
Notice received on Saturday from Additional Electoral Registration Officer, Jalandhar West.
Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia said notice is formal process; two categories of voters left out - unmapped or logical discrepancies; his documents will be collected from home.
SIR follow-up verification in Punjab until September 12, 2026; final electoral roll October 12, 2026.
20.69 lakh voters, nearly 10% of state's electorate, remained unmapped after first phase; in Jalandhar, 1.46 lakh unmapped.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimNavdeep Suri, former diplomat, raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Punjab after being served a notice saying his details do not match.
ClaimSuri submitted his Voter Card and Aadhaar Card to the booth-level officer and was assured that everything was in order, but later received a message saying some details did not match with SIR in 2003.
ClaimSuri said the booth-level officer told him to collect the notice and return with unspecified documents to prove his Indian citizenship, and after he replied he was not in India in 2003, they asked for his passport as proof.
ClaimSuri's quote: 'I happen to have documents other than voter ID and Aadhaar card. But can’t help asking: If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what’s the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!'
ClaimPunjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra said Suri's name was never removed from the electoral roll and that his name is part of the draft electoral roll published on August 13.
ClaimAnindita Mitra said Suri was simply served notice and asked to submit certain documents, and after getting the mandatory documents, his name was published as part of the electoral roll.
ClaimThe SIR was first launched in Bihar in June 2025 and over 60 lakh names, including those of deceased voters, were removed from the electoral rolls.
ClaimUnder the SIR process, voters who were not included in the 2002 or 2003 electoral rolls are required to submit documents linking them to people included in those legacy rolls.
ClaimThe Supreme Court observed that the Election Commission's powers to revise electoral rolls cannot be 'untrammelled' and must comply with principles of transparency and natural justice.
ClaimThe third phase of the Special Intensive Revision is being conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Telangana, and Uttarakhand, and the Union Territories of Delhi, Chandigarh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
ClaimCongress leaders from Uttarakhand, led by AICC general secretary in-charge Kumari Selja, sought a meeting with the EC but the delegation was not allowed to enter its office.
ClaimSenior Congress leader P Chidambaram stated on X: 'Based on the outcomes so far, at the end of the S.I.R. process, 10% of India's adult population will be 'citizens' but without the right to vote, thanks to the ECI. That is nearly 10 crore people. The ECI has created a new category of 'non-voting citizens'.'
ClaimCongress leader Dr Shama Mohamed stated: 'This is what Gyanesh Kumar and @ECISVEEP have done. When a former Ambassador is finding it difficult to establish his citizenship before the ECI during SIR, we can only imagine the situation of common voters. SIR is nothing but a disenfranchisement exercise.'
ClaimRamesh Chander, a retired IFS officer and former Indian ambassador, was served a notice under the Special Intensive Revision requiring him to submit additional documents as proof of his Indian citizenship to remain on the electoral roll.
ClaimRamesh Chander served as Indian Ambassador to Belarus, Counsellor of India to Japan, Consul General of India in Edinburgh, and Minister at the Embassy of India in Prague.
ClaimThe notice received by Ramesh Chander from the Additional Electoral Registration Officer, Jalandhar West, stated that the documents furnished by him were inadequate to establish his eligibility as a voter and that his voter details had not matched those in the last electoral roll following the SIR.
ClaimJalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia said the notice received by Ramesh Chander denotes a formal process and nothing out of the ordinary, and that his requisite documents shall be collected from his home.
ClaimThe SIR follow-up verification for unmapped voters in Punjab will continue until September 12, 2026, followed by publication of the final electoral roll on October 12, 2026.
Claim20.69 lakh voters, nearly 10 per cent of Punjab's electorate, remained unmapped after the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
ClaimActor-activist Prakash Raj claimed earlier this month that his name had been 'deleted' from the voters' list in his constituency as part of the ongoing SIR in Karnataka.
ClaimThe first phase of SIR was conducted in Bihar in 2025, and it was extended to 12 states and Union Territories in the second phase in late 2025 and the first half of 2026.
ClaimIn May, the Supreme Court upheld the legality of the SIR revision but said that the exercise does not mean that the Election Commission can decide on whether the person is an Indian citizen.
ClaimThe house-to-house enumeration phase of the electoral-roll revision recently concluded in Punjab, with 90.4% of the state's registered electors submitting their enumeration forms.
12 outlets · 16 articles consulted: ANI (Asian News International), Daily Excelsior, Hindustan Times, Moneycontrol, The New Indian Express, Outlook India, scroll.in, ThePrint, THE WEEK, Times Now, The Times of India, The Tribune46 claims extractedVersion 8Written 2026-08-24