Bengaluru, May 16: Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, said on Saturday that the SIR process aims to eliminate bogus voters and serves the national interest and security.
Expressing confidence that the SIR would also address the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, the BJP leader questioned those opposing the exercise, asking: “Why do they fear the process?”
Karnataka will begin the next phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls from June 20, covering more than 5.55 crore electors.
According to the Election Commission of India, the exercise will include a month-long house-to-house verification drive by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from June 30.
“Some Muslim organisations have made remarks opposing the SIR. There are over 2 crore illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India,” Ashoka said.
“Most of them are in West Bengal, followed by Assam and Bihar. More than 10 lakh Bangladeshis are living illegally in Karnataka. If anyone challenges me on this, I am ready to personally show them areas in Bengaluru where they are residing,” he added.
Speaking to reporters, he said that the Bengaluru Police, under the current commissioner, had identified around 250 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and handed them over to security agencies for repatriation to Bangladesh.
He added that they were flown from Bengaluru to the border at a cost of Rs 65 lakh. “This is on record. It happened within the last month or so,” he said.
“Congress leaders, including Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, claim there is not even a single illegal Bangladeshi immigrant in the state, but the reality is different. Many are living in tents at six locations in Mahadevapura. They are also employed in large numbers at lower wages in coffee plantations in Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu,” he added.
Expressing concern that some illegal immigrants could engage in criminal or anti-national activities, the Leader of the Opposition said the SIR process would help curb such issues.
Questioning “why fear the SIR”, he said: “All Indians, whether Hindu, Muslim, or Christian, have the right to vote. If anything goes wrong in the process, there is a right to appeal. The Congress is in power in Karnataka, and Congress has agents in every booth, just like the BJP and JD(S).”
“The SIR process aims to eliminate bogus voters. It is in India’s interest and important for national security. It will also help remove the names of deceased voters and those whose names appear on voter lists in multiple states,” he added.
On Friday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar alleged that the SIR of electoral rolls was being implemented to “cut” the votes of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and minorities.
He said the ruling Congress government in the state would ensure that these communities were “protected”.
Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress president, said the party was educating all its leaders about the SIR process.
