Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka Congress government in Bengaluru on Friday, accusing it of profound hypocrisy regarding its protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Kumaraswamy asserted that the ruling party itself engaged in widespread irregularities during the initial phases of the electoral exercise.
The former Chief Minister condemned the Congress's current stance against SIR process irregularities as 'shameful'. He sharply criticised Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his Cabinet colleagues for staging a street protest instead of attending a scheduled Cabinet meeting. Kumaraswamy demanded immediate police action against Congress leaders, alleging their demonstration disrupted traffic and inconvenienced the public. He metaphorically stated, "Congress unnecessarily making a commotion over 'vote theft' is like the Bhagavad Gita coming from the mouth of a demon."
Kumaraswamy elaborated on his allegations, claiming Congress workers had systematically gathered individuals in large groups at various locations, including marriage halls, community halls, and private residences, to facilitate electoral roll revisions. He highlighted that the Janata Dal (Secular) had formally complained to the Election Commission regarding these activities, with leaders from the entire NDA alliance subsequently submitting their own grievances to the Commission. The Union Minister expressed dismay that the state government remained silent when these complaints were initially lodged, only to now raise concerns about alleged irregularities in the SIR process. He attributed this sudden vocalization to pressure from Congress leaders in Delhi.
Furthermore, Kumaraswamy contended that Chief Minister Shivakumar brought the SIR issue to the forefront specifically to divert public attention from serious allegations surrounding the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (NICE) project. He recalled holding a press conference three days prior, where he presented documented evidence alleging illicit land acquisition by the Chief Minister and his family members in collusion with the company involved in the NICE project. Kumaraswamy concluded by reiterating his criticism of the Congress administration, using the hashtag "CongressFailsKarnataka".
This political exchange follows Chief Minister Shivakumar's dharna on Thursday at the Chief Electoral Officer's office in Bengaluru. During his protest, the Chief Minister demanded a criminal case and a thorough investigation into an alleged conspiracy to delete eligible voters' names through fraudulent Form 7 applications. In response, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar directed Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) statewide to take appropriate action against any applicants found to have knowingly made false declarations while filing claims and objections related to electoral rolls.
Image: mangalorean.com
đź“° Source: Mangalorean News