Kumaraswamy demands scrapping of Karnataka SIR, alleges irregularities
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Bengaluru: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday criticised the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, alleging that the exercise lacked credibility and demanding that the entire process be scrapped.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said the voter revision exercise in the state "has no meaning" and alleged serious lapses in the manner in which it was being conducted.
He said the state election authorities had informed them that the matter had been referred to the Election Commission of India and that further action would be taken based on its directions.
"Our demand is that the entire process carried out so far should be completely cancelled," Kumaraswamy said.
The Union Minister also announced that he would travel to New Delhi on Monday to meet the Election Commission.
"I will place before the Election Commission all the details of what has taken place here and urge them to halt the ongoing process and ensure that a transparent voter revision exercise is conducted," he said.
Kumaraswamy criticised the Karnataka government, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President B.K. Hariprasad and State Home Minister Priyank Kharge over the alleged irregularities in the SIR process, questioning their silence on the issue.
"The state government has not reacted in any manner. I do not know where the Congress President (Mallikarjun Kharge) has disappeared. Those who make comments every day, what do they have to say about this issue? The Home Minister (Priyank Kharge), who issues statements on everything on a daily basis, what is his response to this?" he said.
He added that political leaders who frequently lecture others about rules and regulations should explain the developments surrounding the SIR exercise.
"They speak about enforcing rules and maintaining order. On one hand, they are carrying out footpath clearance drives, but what about the SIR process that is being conducted on roadsides and in public places?" he asked.
Kumaraswamy further said that if the Karnataka government had any sense of responsibility, it should explain why government officials participated in such activities and what directions had been issued to the Election Commission.
The Union Minister also urged the Karnataka government to provide alternative arrangements for roadside vendors before carrying out eviction drives, saying the livelihoods of lakhs of families must be protected while complying with Supreme Court directions.
Referring to the ongoing footpath clearance drives in Bengaluru, he said everyone respected the Supreme Court's orders, but the state government must also consider the impact on street vendors.
"We all accept the Supreme Court's orders. But lakhs of families depend on roadside vending for their daily livelihood. They survive by carrying out business on the streets every day," he said.
Kumaraswamy questioned what measures the government had taken to safeguard the livelihoods of vendors if they were being evicted in compliance with the court's directions.
"Fine, remove them in accordance with the Supreme Court's orders. Protecting people's lives is our duty. But what are you doing about the lives of these vendors? What alternative arrangements have you made for them? Where will you relocate so many people?" he asked.
He said the Karnataka government frequently spoke about enforcing the law but had failed to address the rehabilitation of those whose livelihoods would be affected.
"The state government talks about the law, but it must also think about the lives of those earning their livelihood. It should provide an alternative arrangement for them. There has been no discussion on this so far," Kumaraswamy said.
Questioning the sudden eviction of vendors, he said they could not simply be asked to vacate without being provided with an alternative.
"You cannot suddenly evict them and leave them wondering where they should go. My demand is that the state government must first make alternative arrangements for roadside vendors before carrying out such drives," he added.
With IANS inputs