Mangalore, Thursday – While arriving at Mangalore International Airport (Bajpe) on a tour of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar told reporters that his government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court to contest irregularities in the Systematic Integrity Register (SIR) and that the legal battle will continue unabated.
The CM said the petition targets several serious violations and procedural lapses uncovered in SIR, emphasizing that safeguarding the right to vote is as essential as protecting the right to live. He added that the state has organised a massive public demonstration to defend democratic values and that further protests are planned if necessary.
Shivakumar recalled a recent rally in Delhi where senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked him to board a vehicle. He noted that a few media outlets and BJP figures have tried to portray the episode as a major insult, but he dismissed such politicisation as a distraction from the core issue of voter rights.
He credited his elevation to chief ministership to the support of Congress stalwarts R. Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and the party at large, describing their guidance as compassionate and strong. The CM urged opposition parties to stop exploiting minor incidents for political gain.
Expressing enthusiasm for the cultural celebrations, Shivakumar said he looks forward to participating in the Shree Gokarnanath temple Dasara festivities at Kudaroli. He highlighted that the Dasara started by Janardhan Poojaris in Kudaroli this year features vibrant processions, folk games reminiscent of the Vijayanagara era, and striking tableaux from Tulunadu, showcasing coastal Karnataka’s rich heritage.
When asked about media queries concerning the investigation into a former chief minister, the CM declined to comment. However, Minister U. T. Khader assured that an impartial inquiry is already underway, stressing that there is no cause for alarm and that the final report will reveal the truth once the probe concludes.
Present at the briefing were legislators Manjunath Bhandari, Ivan Disoja, Congress leader R. Shahid Tekkil and Shashidhar Hegde, who listened to the chief minister’s statements.
Image: Wikipedia — D. K. Shivakumar
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK