Voters protest in Varanasi over names missing from list

Voters in Varanasi constituency staged protests on Monday over the alleged deletion of names in the voters list. Scores of people took to the streets to register their protest. "Eighty percent names of voters belonging from Muslim households has been struck off, who had been casting their votes all these years," said one local woman.

Another voter asked: Why are Muslims being targeted? They also questioned the Election Commission's sincerity to ensure cent percent voting.

Stakes are high in the Varanasi constituency as it is witnessing a hi-profile battle between Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, both of whom are contesting the elections from here. Five-time MLA from UP Ajay Rai is the Congress candidate from Varanasi.