- Shah said opponents should 'bring a proposal in Parliament that anyone can be a voter', adding that the SIR asks whether you are a citizen.
- Ramesh called the exercise 'Shah Instigated Removal' and said the infiltrator argument diverts attention.
- AAP MP Sanjay Singh told Parliament last winter that Bihar's SIR found only 315 foreign nationals among about 65 lakh names struck off.
On 13 October 2026, Home Minister Amit Shah made his first comments on the protests against the CEC, saying cleaning voter rolls was the ECI's job and accusing Rahul Gandhi of trying to protect 'infiltrators'. He said 11% to 30% alleged infiltrators had been identified in many places during the SIR. On 14 October, Congress's Jairam Ramesh asked how many infiltrators had been detected, deleted and deported, saying nearly 14 crore Indians had lost their right to vote.
Claim by claim
In many places, 30%, 20%, 15% and 11% of alleged infiltrators had been identified during the SIR.
Said by Amit ShahShah did not name the places. The ECI's published SIR categories are dead, shifted, absent, duplicate and 'other'; it has not released a count of foreign nationals.
The Business Standard (Bangladesh) · DNA IndiaNearly 14 crore Indians have been stripped of their right to vote.
Said by Jairam RameshAbout 13.39 crore names were flagged at the draft stage. The ECI says these are not all final deletions, and it has added about 2.37 crore young voters since June 2025.
India Today · DNA IndiaWhat each side says
Shah said free and fair elections need voter lists that match the legal definition of a voter, which starts with citizenship, and that opponents were protecting a 'vote bank'.
The Business Standard (Bangladesh)Ramesh asked three questions: how many infiltrators were detected, deleted and deported. AAP's Sanjay Singh sought a special session of Parliament on 'vote chori' and police action against protesters.
India Today · ThePrintNot yet known
- ?Whether the government or the ECI will publish any count of non-citizens found during the SIR.
Sources
4 outlets across the spectrum. Leanings are a rough guide to who reported it, not a verdict on accuracy.
- The Business Standard (Bangladesh)Amit Shah accuses opposition of shielding 'infiltrators' in voter rolls
- India TodaySIR electoral roll revision: Congress asks Amit Shah for infiltrator data
- ThePrintCongress challenges Amit Shah's 'infiltrator' argument for SIR-'how many detected, deleted or deported'
- DNA India'13 crore voter deletion claim misleading': ECI hits back at SIR allegations
Spasht writes original summaries. Follow the links to read each outlet's own report. Revision 1.