Yogesh K Porwar
*No other state has cooperated with the Election Commission on the SIR process like Karnataka.
*There is no government interference in the Election Commission’s process.
*Opposition parties are scared of government creating awareness among people about SIR.
*Why didn’t BJP drive out illegal migrants when they were in power?.
Dismissing any state government interference in the SIR process,Chief Minister D K Shivakumar today said the Opposition parties are conspiring to snatch away voting rights of the poor and minorities.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha,the CM said, “Even though we oppose the SIR process,our government is creating awareness among the people to protect their voting rights.
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.”
*No other state has cooperated in the SIR process the way we have:
When asked about a complaint filed by Union Ministers Kumaraswamy and Prahlad Joshi with the Chief Election Commissioner regarding the SIR process in the state,he said,”We have our own disagreement on the SIR matter.
We presented our argument in court,and the court has given its verdict on this.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 so that people retain their voting rights.”
*Opposition parties scared of the awareness being created among people:
“The Election Commission itself has given all parties the opportunity to appoint BLAs (booth level agents). Congress,BJP and Janata Dal have appointed BLAs. Organizations have been given the opportunity to provide assistance.
Officials are functioning according to the guidance they have received from the Election Commission.The Opposition parties have started to fear the awareness our government is creating about SIR.
This shows that they themselves have no trust in the Election Commission.They are saying it should be cancelled.This is a matter left to the Election Commission,” he said.
*Why didn’t they drive out illegal migrants when they were in power?:
“About 4.50 crore people in the state have obtained caste certificates.We have provided the facility to download these online.
Further,powers have been given to the Deputy Tahsildar to issue residence confirmation certificates.No one has the 2002 voter roll record with them, provision has been provided to download this.
The government is calling on the people of Karnataka to protect their voting rights.The Opposition parties are simply calling them illegal Bangladeshi migrants.When power was in your hands,why didn’t you drive them out then? Who stopped you at that time?”he asked.
*Can those who do politics and criticize be told not to?:
“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.In a democratic system, there is provision for appointing BLAs. Isn’t it our duty to guide MLAs and defeated candidates on protecting the voter list? Can those who do politics, those who criticize, be told not to? A tongue without bones.
Their criticisms will die,our work will remain.Giving the people of the state their right to vote is our government’s goal.Even though we oppose this process, we are working to protect people’s rights,”he hit back.
“I and Parameshwar are going to Bidar,and to Basavanna’s Anubhava Mantapa,and we will review the rain-deficit situation in the Kalaburagi division.
Some parts of the state are now seeing improvement in rainfall.Inflow is coming into the Almatti and Tungabhadra dams.We will work to prioritize drinking water,”he said.
