New Delhi: The Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Malik Moatasim Khan has condemned the disturbing incidents of voter suppression targeting Muslims and marginalized sections during recent elections in India.

In a statement to the media, the JIH Vice President said, “Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemns the disturbing incidents of voter suppression targeting Muslims and other marginalized sections during recent elections in India. Media reports suggest that in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, people in at least four Muslim-concentrated villages complained that the state police resorted to unprovoked lathi-charge at polling booths, resulting in injuries to hundreds of voters. In the Aliganj Assembly segment in the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha constituency as well as in Aonla Lok Sabha constituency many eligible voters were reportedly prevented from casting their vote. Additionally, there are other alarming reports of bogus voting in the Rasulabad Assembly segment of the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency.

Malik Moatasim Khan stated, “This heavy-handed police action on innocent voters undermines the basic democratic right of citizens to participate freely in the electoral process. In a democracy, it is essential that every citizen, irrespective of their background or beliefs, be encouraged and facilitated to cast their vote without fear or obstruction. However, the incidents highlighted above represent a troubling trend where Muslims and other marginalized communities are systematically targeted and disenfranchised. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind calls upon the Election Commission of India to thoroughly investigate these incidents and take immediate corrective measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future electoral phases.”