BENGALURU: KARNATAKA Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday dismissed the BJP-JDS allegations that the state government is interfering in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This is a process of the Election Commission, and there is no government interference in it, but it is a conspiracy by the opposition parties to snatch away the voting rights of the poor and minorities, he told media persons in Bengaluru.
Shivakumar said that although they oppose the SIR process, the state government is creating awareness among the people to protect their voting rights. “We have our own disagreement on the SIR. We presented our argument in court, and the court has given its verdict. We are unhappy about the timeline of this process, and we will approach the court against that as well. Our government has joined hands with the Election Commission because we must protect everyone’s right to vote. No other state has given this kind of cooperation the way we have. By telling people that their right to vote is their right to live, the government is creating awareness,” the CM said.
He was responding to a question on a complaint filed by Union Ministers HD Kumaraswamy and Pralhad Joshi with the Chief Election Commission regarding the SIR process in the state.
He said the officials are functioning according to the guidance they have received from the Election Commission. The opposition parties’ stand shows that they have no trust in the Election Commission; they have demanded that it be cancelled, and the matter is left to the Election Commission, he said.
The Chief Minister said about 4.5 crore people in the state have obtained caste certificates.
The government provided the facility to download it online, and powers have been given to the Deputy Tahsildar to issue residence confirmation certificates. He said no one has the 2002 voter roll record with them and provision has been made to download it.
The CM said opposition parties talk about illegal Bangladeshi migrants, but why didn’t they drive them out when they were in power? “For the first time, a help centre has been set up for people at every booth. They should congratulate us for our work. Let them come and investigate,” the CM said.
BKH cites ECI rules, defends filling forms in public places
KPCC president BK Hariprasad on Monday defended Booth Level Officers (BLOs) filling enumeration forms for people in community halls instead of the mandatory door-to-door visits as part of SIR. Defending the involvement of political parties and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) helping citizens the state Congress chief said that there is nothing wrong in them filling enumeration forms in public places.
“According to the ECI, enumeration forms can be filled in public places,” he added.
He further defended the BLOs who found it hard to reach out to slum dwellers and eventually filled the forms legally in community halls, mosques and temples.
“Under the Representation of the People Act, there is a provision to create awareness in residential welfare associations, churches, and mosques”, he said.
KPCC working president and Rajya Sabha member GC Chandrashekar claimed that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar himself found it difficult to fill the enumeration form given its complexity. “Was it wrong to create awareness about this?” he questioned.
