Karnataka SIR: BJP alleges Congress trying to include '25 lakh Bangladeshi migrants'

Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, the Opposition parties have accused the Congress government of facilitating irregularities by including the names of Bangladeshi migrants.

The BJP and JD(S) on Friday (July 3) alleged a conspiracy to include "20 lakh to 25 lakh illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the electoral roll", and said that the exercise without transparency, integrity and credibility, defeats the very purpose of the SIR.

What Karnataka CEO said

The Opposition also charged that the mandatory door-to-door verification of voters was not happening. Instead, camps are being organised, some of which have taken place in mosques as well.

Also read: Kumaraswamy accuses Congress govt of manipulating Karnataka SIR, seeks EC action

Amid these allegations, Karnataka CEO V Anbukkumar has instructed officials to issue necessary directions to all Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to visit houses and distribute enumeration forms for the SIR as per the EC’s guidelines.

The house-to-house enumeration phase of the SIR in Karnataka, which commenced on June 30, will continue till July 29.

State Home Minister Priyank Kharge said SIR must be carried out strictly in accordance with the Constitution and prescribed procedures, and any violations would invite disciplinary action.

BJP to submit official complaint

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka accused the Congress government of facilitating alleged irregularities in the ongoing SIR and claimed that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were being enrolled as voters.

Also read: Karnataka's PRC push: DK Shivakumar's counter-move to tackle SIR?

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, the BJP leader said he would submit an official complaint, along with documents, photographs and videos, to both the Central and Karnataka Election Commissions, alleging violations in the SIR process and seeking action against those responsible.

"The Congress is conspiring to include around 20 lakh to 25 lakh Bangladeshis as voters for the sake of votes," Ashoka alleged.

He said that the SIR exercise was intended to identify genuine Indian voters and strengthen democracy, but alleged that the ruling Congress leaders had initially opposed it before changing their stand after the Supreme Court's observations.

He accused the government-appointed Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of distributing SIR forms in groups outside mosques instead of conducting door-to-door verification as prescribed under the guidelines.

He alleged that forms were being handed out indiscriminately, enabling ineligible persons to obtain them without household verification.

Media asked to visit areas

"The rules clearly say officials must visit every house, identify the house number, verify the occupants, issue the form there and collect it from the same address. That is not happening," he said.

Ashoka further alleged that fake identity documents were being created to support applications and said that individuals were producing Aadhaar and other records from West Bengal and Assam.

The BJP leader asked journalists to visit areas such as Guttahalli, Mahadevapura and Battarahalli, where he alleged SIR forms were being distributed from tents near mosques.

Ashoka described it as a major scam and demanded criminal action against Assistant Returning Officers and other officials allegedly involved.

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra alleged that the Congress government was misusing the ongoing SIR by exerting pressure on election officials and violating prescribed procedures.

He demanded that the State Election Commission immediately intervene and rectify the alleged irregularities.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Vijayendra claimed that ruling party legislators were misusing Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and influencing the SIR process for political gain.

Vijayendra alleged that in districts, including Kalaburagi, Bidar and Ramanagara, officials were conducting SIR-related work from mosques and community halls instead of carrying out the prescribed door-to-door verification.

He claimed this prevented many Hindus from approaching the designated locations and described it as "a conspiracy by the state government." Union Minister and JD(S) second-in-command H D Kumaraswamy accused the state government of grossly misusing the administrative machinery and conducting the SIR in blatant violation of the guidelines laid down by the ECI.

Kumaraswamy to approach EC

He alleged that irregularities were taking place in Ramanagara and several other parts of Karnataka and claimed that Deputy Commissioners in certain districts were acting at the behest of the state government.

"I will personally approach the Election Commission of India and lodge a complaint. The Chief Minister of Karnataka is the principal architect behind the entire SIR malpractice," Kumaraswamy alleged.

Addressing a press conference at the JDS State Headquarters in Bengaluru, the union minister presented details of alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise underway in the Yeshwanthpur Assembly constituency in Bengaluru and screened related video footage before the media.

He charged that officers were intimidated and coerced into carrying out the SIR exercise according to the government's political agenda.

"The Election Commission of India must intervene immediately. The revision carried out so far must be scrapped in its entirety and the electoral rolls must be revised afresh. Stringent action must also be initiated against the Deputy Commissioners of Ramanagara and Bengaluru Urban districts," he demanded.

Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje also made similar accusations at a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday.

(With agency inputs)