New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
He demanded a criminal investigation into the entire exercise, which he said was a “coordinated effort to remove voters”.
The Karnataka Congress leader also accused Bharatiya Janata Party workers of submitting applications targeting the Dalit, minorities and Scheduled Tribes.
Shivakumar was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying, ““There are many instances of individuals filing multiple applications in different names for deleting voters. Minorities, Dalits and tribals are being targeted to remove their names from the electoral roll under SIR.”
He said that these applications have been filed to allegedly remove 4.5 million names from the voters list in the state. According to the CM in Vijayapura alone 14,000 applications had been filed for deletion of names from the voters list.
He also said that bulk applications were filed in just 3 days, between September 22 to September 24. Those filing them were BJP workers, on behalf of other people.
He informed that cases had been registered in Belagavi, Bhalki, Mysuru and several other places, alleging deletion of voters names, despite them not approaching the Election Commission for the exercise. He alleged that this was done by the BJP in collusion with its ally the Janata Dal (Secular) and described it as a “big conspiracy” to delete 5 to 6 million names from the voters list.
He said, “The BJP has printed large numbers of Form 7 to exclude voters.”
Shivakumar in a letter to the state Chief Electoral Officer said, No eligible citizen, irrespective of religion, caste, community or social background, should be deprived of the right to remain on the electoral roll.
He claimed that it appeared that the names and photos of several voters were pre-printed on Form 7, seeking the deletion of their names from the voters list. He added that details of the objectors were also subsequently filled.
The letter further said that BJP leaders had acknowledged that Form 7 applications were filed by their associates. He said that the video recordings of these admissions by the BJP leaders had been submitted for investigation.
