Bengaluru, July 10 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje on Friday accused the Karnataka government of endangering national security by proposing to issue Permanent Residency Certificates (PRCs), alleging that the move could be misused to benefit illegal immigrants.

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has announced the issuance of Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) to help eligible citizens participate in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He maintained that the move aims to prevent eligible voters from being deleted from the voter lists.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru, Karandlaje alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was acting with “arrogance” and attempting to alter the country’s demographic profile.

“The Chief Minister believes he can do anything and that no one can question him because he has the support of the Congress high command. You are attempting to change India’s demography and harm the country’s demographic balance. You should remember that,” she said.

Questioning the state’s authority to issue Permanent Residency Certificates, Karandlaje asked, “Who are you to provide citizenship or Permanent Residency Certificates? This move endangers the safety and security of Karnataka.”

She alleged that large numbers of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants had entered Karnataka after the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in other states.

“We have identified illegal Bangladeshi immigrants at several locations. Many of those who were staying in Bihar and West Bengal have come to Karnataka in large numbers by train and other means after the SIR exercise. The media has reported it, and officials are aware of it,” she claimed.

Karandlaje alleged that the Congress government intended to facilitate the inclusion of illegal immigrants in the voters’ list and extend government benefits to them.

“The government’s intention is to include illegal immigrants in the electoral rolls and provide them with government facilities. It has no concern for the interests of local people,” she alleged.

She further contended that the proposal to issue PRCs should not be implemented in Karnataka, claiming it could be misused during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

“They will gather people belonging to a particular religion and community in mosques and other places and attempt to include them in the voters’ list. There is a larger conspiracy behind this,” she alleged.

Citing Govindarajanagar Assembly constituency in Bengaluru as an example, Karandlaje claimed there were unusual changes in voter enrolment figures within a short period, alleging that the data indicated irregularities in the electoral revision process.

The proposed Permanent Residency Certificate has triggered a political controversy in Karnataka, with the BJP alleging it could be misused to benefit illegal immigrants, even as the state government maintains that it is an administrative measure within its jurisdiction.

The Union Minister appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, seeking his immediate intervention in the state government’s move on the Karnataka Permanent Residence (PRC), 2026, on Constitutional and national security grounds.

She has written a letter to Amit Shah: “I write this representation seeking your immediate intervention regarding the notification issued by the Government of Karnataka introducing the Karnataka Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC), 2026. The notification raises serious constitutional, legal and national security concerns that require urgent examination by the Union government.”

“The Constitution of India envisages one citizenship for all citizens across the country. The introduction of a ‘Permanent Residence Certificate’ by the Government of Karnataka is contrary to this constitutional framework, as it seeks to create a separate category of ‘permanent residents’ without any constitutional or statutory authority,” she noted.

–IANS

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