‘Being Treated as Outsiders in Our Own Country’: AISA President Neha Bora Raises Concerns Over Citizenship and Voting Rights

New Delhi: AISA president Neha Bora raised concerns over voting rights, citizenship and equality while addressing the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday. Highlighting the rights and dignity of Muslims, women, Dalits, Adivasis and economically disadvantaged workers, she questioned whether equal treatment was being ensured for every citizen in the country.

Addressing the gathering, Neha said every individual in India deserves equal status and dignity. She described the right to vote as one of the most important foundations of this equality, stressing that every citizen's vote carries equal value in a democracy.

However, she alleged that when people's voting rights are taken away, they are not only deprived of their political rights but are also made to feel like outsiders in their own country.

“When you snatch that vote from us and label us as outsiders in our own country, you turn us into second-class citizens,” she said.

Neha further questioned why citizens repeatedly had to prove their identity and citizenship despite being born and living in India. She alleged that vulnerable sections of society were being forced to stand in long queues to establish their Indian citizenship.

Specifically referring to Muslims, women, Dalits, Adivasis and poor working-class people, she said these communities were facing repeated questions over their identity and citizenship. According to her, such practices risk undermining their dignity and fundamental democratic rights.

Emphasising the principles of equality, Neha argued that a citizen's rights should never depend on their religion, caste, gender or economic background. Every individual must have an equal voice in the country's democratic system, she added.

Her speech brought renewed attention to the ongoing debate surrounding electoral rolls, citizenship verification and voting rights. From the INDIA bloc's rally stage, the AISA president called for the protection of equal citizenship, democratic participation and the constitutional rights of every Indian.