India, Sept. 20 -- I wonder how many of you are following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise currently underway? I ask because it could affect your right to vote. Some of the facts that have emerged are disconcerting. They raise deep and fundamental questions.

For instance, it's reported that the voters list in 17 of the 19 states and Union Territories where the third phase of SIR is being conducted has shrunk by over 15%.

This means net SIR deletions in the 30 states/UTs where at least its first phase is over are around 12 crore. Maharashtra alone might drop 2 crore voters; 32.8% could be lost in Delhi, 12.8% in Chandigarh. These are huge numbers.

Separately, Hindustan Times has reported that 1.1 million Delhi voters were i...