Bengaluru, 03 July (H.S.)

Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Friday alleged that the Congress government was facilitating irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to enrol illegal Bangladeshi nationals as voters in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Ashoka said the Election Commission had initiated the SIR exercise in the interest of national security, but accused the Congress government of misusing the process for political gains.

He claimed that nearly 2 million Bangladeshi nationals were residing in different parts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru, and alleged that their names were absent from the 2002 electoral rolls. He further alleged that SIR application forms were being distributed outside Haj Bhavans and mosques to facilitate their inclusion in the voter list.

Ashoka alleged that Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are required to conduct door-to-door verification, were instead distributing forms on the streets, describing it as a violation of Election Commission guidelines. He claimed that officials were not carrying out the mandatory household verification and document scrutiny.

He further alleged that the SIR process was being conducted in groups outside mosques in Mahadevapura and Byatarayanapura. He said he would submit complaints to both the Central and State Election Commissions and demanded criminal action against officials allegedly responsible for the irregularities.

Ashoka also claimed that the 2002 electoral roll records for Yelahanka were not available on the official website, alleging that this was done to benefit a particular community. He demanded action against both the officials and senior authorities responsible.

According to Ashoka, while the Congress has been opposing the SIR exercise, it is simultaneously encouraging people to enrol under the process to avail themselves of the state's guarantee schemes. He alleged that this was an attempt to retain illegal Bangladeshi nationals in Karnataka.

Ashok, also criticised the state government over the emerging drought situation. He alleged that despite clear signs of drought, the government had failed to take adequate measures while continuing to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Ashoka said that even a month after D.K. Shivakumar assumed office as Chief Minister, there had been no visible change in governance, describing the administration as old wine in a new bottle.

Questioning the Chief Minister's reported advice to farmers not to cultivate crops due to water scarcity, Ashoka said farmers were well aware of agricultural practices and asked whether the government had the courage to give similar advice to Tamil Nadu.

He further alleged that despite Tamil Nadu's opposition to the Mekedatu project, the Karnataka government had failed to defend the project effectively and had not allocated any funds for its implementation, while continuing to release water to the neighbouring state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Rakesh Mahadevappa