SIR row: BJP seeks case against Shivakumar over false allegations

Bengaluru, Oct 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary and BJP MLC C.T. Ravi on Tuesday demanded that the Election Commission of India register a suo motu case against those making unsubstantiated allegations regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and sought legal action against Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for allegedly making false allegations.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannatha Bhavan, here, Ravi said the Chief Minister, who holds a constitutional position, had accused the BJP of attempting to delete 60 lakh to 70 lakh voters belonging to a particular community from the electoral rolls.

“A case should be registered against the Chief Minister for making such an allegation. If he cannot prove it, he should apologise publicly,” Ravi said.

He questioned allegations that EVMs had been tampered with, arguing that if EVMs had been hacked, Shivakumar would not have become Chief Minister and the Congress would not have secured a majority.

Ravi further alleged that despite this, the Chief Minister had levelled allegations against the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.

He noted that officials from the state government itself were working in coordination with the Election Commission.

The BJP leader also demanded action against the Congress for allegedly insulting a constitutional institution and said the BJP would oppose what he termed a conspiracy.

Referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Ravi said the Chief Minister had spoken about 60 lakh to 70 lakh voters. In contrast, the Election Commission had stated that only 91,000 Form-7 applications had been received.

He said Shivakumar should explain the discrepancy and alleged misuse of office.

Ravi maintained that only genuine voters should remain on the electoral rolls.

He alleged that the Congress had carried out “mass mapping” during the SIR exercise and had conspired to include voters of its choice in the electoral rolls.

“We exposed the conspiracy by filing complaints. It is because of this fear that cases are now being registered against us,” he alleged.

Ravi further claimed that the Congress had devised a plan to manipulate electoral rolls for political advantage.

Referring to Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, he said that if Rahul Gandhi files a complaint, it is considered acceptable. In contrast, complaints by BJP workers are treated as a crime.

He said the Election Commission should examine all complaints, remove the names of illegal or ineligible voters and take action against those responsible for irregularities.

“If filing a complaint itself is considered wrong, nobody will come forward to raise objections in future. In that case, the opportunity to file objections should not have been provided at all. The responsibility of verifying the authenticity of objections lies with the Election Commission,” he said.

Ravi also demanded that the identity of complainants be kept confidential and that action be taken against those disclosing their identities.

The BJP leader further referred to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the Emergency period, alleging that the Congress was opposing the electoral roll revision process because it wanted to protect ineligible voters.

“The Election Commission is undertaking a transparent revision of the electoral rolls, but the Congress is opposing the system itself and is trying to protect illegal voters,” he alleged.

Asked about reports that Congress workers had filed objections seeking deletion of Hindu voters’ names, Ravi said he had no information and that the matter required verification.

He alleged that false information was being spread regarding a conspiracy to delete minority voters and claimed that the number of Hindu voters whose names had been deleted was higher.

“Congress brings in the name of the RSS in everything and does politics around it. Otherwise, they cannot digest their food,” he said.

Ravi reiterated that the power to delete names from electoral rolls rests with the Election Commission.

“We have filed complaints. It is the Commission’s job to verify them. It is not the Congress’s job,” he said.

He further alleged that the Election Commission had not sought registration of FIRs and accused the state government of using complaints filed under fictitious names to target BJP workers.

“Complaints are being received in the names of Yanka, Nani and Sheena, and FIRs are being registered against BJP workers to harass them. They are misusing their powers,” he alleged.

Ravi said the Election Commission is an autonomous constitutional institution and not an agency of the state government.

“When we follow the constitutional route, the Congress creates anarchy. If asking for an investigation is a crime, let the Congress say under which law it is a crime,” he said.

BJP state spokespersons Venkatesh Dodderi, M.D. Lakshminarayana and Dattatreya were present at the press conference.

Source: IANS