Showdown over SIR drive: Is SIR leading to mass deletions of voters?

The big talking point of this episode of News Today is the escalating political war over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The issue has advanced to the Supreme Court after TMC MP Derek O'Brien filed a case alleging procedural irregularities and the 'mass deletion' of nearly 60 lakh voters in West Bengal. Political analyst Yogendra Yadav describes the deletion of 2.89 crore voters in Uttar Pradesh as unprecedented. The BJP has defended the exercise against opposition claims. Internationally, the program features an interview with economist Jeffrey Sachs, who critiques the 'Donald Doctrine' following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and warns that 'Iran is next'. The report also covers renewed protests in Uttarakhand for the Ankita Bhandari murder case, with public demands for a CBI probe amid allegations of 'VIP' involvement.